Vegetation establishment on reclaimed coal mine spoils in northwestern New Mexico

This paper examines whether revegetation success obtained using irrigation during the first few years continued after irrigation was terminated. Vegetation variables were measured and compared among one undisturbed site and nine revegetated sites (three nontopsoiled and six topsoiled sites) of various ages from a mine near Farmington, NM. Overall, the mean vegetation variables from the reclaimed sites were equal to or greater than those from the undisturbed site regardless of treatment age