Abstract
Experimental fields were established at three sites on different soil types in Dutch heathlands, where grass species have become dominant, in order to find methods for re-establishment of an ericoid dwarf-shrub heath. Treatments included mowing, mowing and cutting for hay, ploughing, milling, sod cutting and burning.
Re-establishment of ericoid dwarf shrubs was only observed after creation of gaps or patches of open soil. The results after nine years for two of the sites and six years for the other site indicate that sod cutting is the most suitable method provided that the mineral top soil is not removed or disturbed. More profound removal of the sod including mineral soil causes a delay in re-establishment of ericoid dwarf shrubs and an increase of grasses.
Factors that may explain different responses to gap creation including availability of seeds, soil moisture, soil fertility and plant survival strategies are briefly discussed.
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Abbreviations
- Calluna = :
-
Calluna vulgaris
- Deschampsia = :
-
Deschampsia flexuosa
- Erica = :
-
Erica tetralix
- Molinia = :
-
Molinia caerulea
- Sarothammus = :
-
Sarothammus scoparius
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Diemont, W.H., Linthorst Homan, H.D.M. Re-establishment of dominance by dwarf shrubs on grass heaths. Vegetatio 85, 13–19 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042251