Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) is a pioneer species, well adapted to colonize soil-less substrata. It features rapid growth, due to symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia. This species is recommended for reclamation of degraded lands, especially soil-less areas endangered by erosion. This work investigates the influence of substratum acidity (pH(KCl)) on growth of sea buckthorn on the external spoil bank of the Bełchatów Brown Coal Mine in central Poland. First year survival and subsequent growth of planted specimens was strongly dependent on substratum acidity. The range of pH variability tolerated by sea buckthorn on spoil bank was comparable with the range observed in natural conditions. The best growth (and potentially the best ability to stabilize substratum) was observed on neutral substrata pH(KCl) 6.61-7.2. while the worst on very acid substrata (pH(KCl) 3.51-4.5). The pH level of substratum could be very useful diagnostic feature to assess suitability of sea buckthorn for substratum stabilization.

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