| Vegetation development on iron mine tailings in northern New York was investigated. Chaumont and South Tailings were harsh environments for plant establishment and growth characterized by acidic substrate (pH 4.62-6.65), poor cation exchange capacity (CEC 1.75-1.43 me/100g), and very low concentrations of silt and clay (%si+cl 6.7-9.4), organic matter (OM 0.12-0.24%), and major nutrients (N 0.54-0.60%, P 17.0-25.9 ppm, K 0.02-0.03 me/100g). Meanwhile the Wetland Area substate showed the properties of pH 4.7, CEC 4.74 me/100g, %(si+cl) 44.6%, OM 0.67%, N 2.08%, P 111 ppm, and K 0.18 me/100g.;Artificial establishment of switch grass (Panicum virgatum) aided the natural invasion of indigenous tree and shrub saplings.;Plant community development on Chaumont and South Tailings may be summarized as follows: (1) establishment of P. grandidentata, P. tremuloids, Salix spp., and B. populifolia following the switch grass establishment, (2) gradually increased dominance of Populus spp. and (3) late invasion of Prunus pensylvanica. The early invasion of Populus, Salix, and Betula was most likely due to their effective seed dispersal, whereas the late arrival of Prunus pensylvanica was due to heavy seeds. Vigorous root sprouting ability of Populus spp. accounts for increased dominance of Populus.;The vegetation development in the Wetland Area can be summarized as follows: (1) initial establishment of Populus grandidentata, P. tremuloides, Salix spp., and Betula populifolia, (2) increased dominance of Salix spp. and Betula populifolia on silty substrate or increase of P. granidentata and P. tremuloides on sandy/loamy substrate, (3) late invasion of Vaccinium spp. with few scattered stems of Abies balsamea and Picea spp. under the canopy of Populus spp. and Betula populifolia, Abies balsamea and Picea spp. would dominate the area eventually. Effective seed dispersals as well as proximity to seed sources of Populus, Salix, and Betula accounted for their early invasion.;Stepwise multiple regressions revealed that K was the most consistent predictor of vegetation of Chaumont Tailings whereas N was the only consistent predictor of vegetation of South Tailings. However, no element can be excluded definitively from the elucidation of soil-vegetation relationships. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.). |
