Plant-Soil Relationships on Bentonite Mine Spoils and Sagebrush-Grassland in the Northern High Plains

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Abstract
Plant canopy cover, standing crop and soils were sampled on old (unreclaimed), reclaimed, and semireclaimed (newly mined) bentonite mine spoils and native sagebrush-grass rangelands [major species included Artemisia tridentala, Opuntia polyacantha, Agropyron smithii, Buchloe dactyloides, Bouteloua gracilis and Sphaeralcea coccinea] in southeastern Montana. Plant cover and standing crop were higher on sagebrush-grass rangelands than on all bentonite spoils. Scurfless saltbush (Atriplex suckleyi) was the most successful and abundant plant on bentonite spoils. [Agropyron cristatum and A. smithii were also present.] Soil chemical analyses indicated that low pH, excessive salinity and sodium, plus soil compaction were limiting for plant growth and establishment on bentonite spoils.

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