CULTURAL METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING WYOMING BIG SAGEBRUSH ON MINED LANDS

Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp, wyomingensis Beetle & Young) is one of the most widely distributed shrub species in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain and Northern Plains region, Its reestablishmen t on mined lands has generally proven difficult however, because of lo w seedling vigor, an inability to compete with herbaceous species, poo r seed quality, and altered edaphic conditions, Field research evaluat ing the effect of topsoil management, mulching practice, and plant com petition have shown that all of these factors significantly influence initial sagebrush establishment, Greater sagebrush establishment occur red on fresh topsoil compared to 5-year-old stockpiled topsoil, Stubbl e, surface-applied mulch, and elimination of herbaceous competition al so significantly increased establishment in the first growing season, A cool, wet second-year growing season (April-September) resulted in l arge increases in sagebrush seedling density across all treatments; ho wever, soil management and competition treatment effects were still ap parent in the second year, Mulch type had limited effects on sagebrush seedling density by the third year of the study, This research indica tes that big sagebrush seed viability in the soil is longer than previ ously thought and that seed dormancy, safe site development, and clima ctic conditions play important roles in germination, establishment, an d seedling survival of this species.