Revegetation of Disturbed Grounds in the Semi-arid Climate of Southcentral Washington

Abstract

A mechanically disturbed area containing trace quantities of radionuclides was successfully revegetated in 1 yr. Using treatments of straw, clay and a straw/clay mixture, the soil was sufficiently stabilized to resist wind erosion. The shallow-rooted vegetation (cheatgrass), planted to impede the growth of deep-rooted radionuclide carriers, maintained itself through 3 growing seasons and will probably persist in the study area for several decades.