Establishment of Switchgrass On Reclaimed Coal Mine Soil.

Eight hectares of ‘Alamo’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) were established in August, 2008 on two topsoil substitute mixtures. One soil is the red oxidized topsoil substitute currently approved for upland respread. The other is a mixture of prime farmland topsoil with its subsoil collected to a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 m. A successful stand of switchgrass with 5-6 plants m^-2 was established and was evaluated in 2009 and 2010 for survival and growth.  First year switchgrass yield on red oxidized subsoil was 2100 kg ha^-1 compared with 5470 kg ha^-1 on prime farmland soil, without fertilizer to suppress weed competition. ‘Durana’ white clover (Trifolium repns L.) was planted into standing switchgrass in November, 2009 and served as part of the N source in 2010. An additional 5 hectares of switchgrass were planted into red oxidized topsoil substitute in May and August, 2010 and inter-planted with white clover in November, 2010. Swichgrass yield during the second year (2010) year ranged from 5000 kg ha^-1 on red oxidized soil to 10,000 kg ha^-1 on prime farmland soil.