Response of alkali sacaton and fourwing saltbush to various amendments on coal mine spoils from northwestern New Mexico. I. Acid spoil

Chemical and physical amendments were tested for their use in revegetation of acid coal spoil from northwestern New Mexico. Greenhouse pot tests were used to determine plant response to amendments of spoil from the Navajo Mine. The chemical amendments included applications of phosphorus, lime, and wetting agent; and the physical amendments consisted of calcareous sand, shale, and power-plant bottom ash. The physical amendments were added as either a surface mulch, incorporated into the spoil or top-dressed. Results indicate that the following amendments are promising: sand or ash mulch over the spoil treated with P and lime; shale or sand incorporation with P and lime; sand top-dressing on the spoil with P. Application of wetting agent may be necessary for the first and possibly the third cases if the spoils are water-repellent.