Vegetation Development in a Former Orchard Under Different Treatments: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

An experiment on the vegetation development of the tall herb understory of an orchard was started in 1969. In that year the University arranged with the State Forestry Service that an apple orchard belonging to the woodland nature reserve Wylerberg was cut and a series of experimental plots was established. The idea was inspired with the famous Park Grass experiments at Rothamsted (Williams 1978, Thurston, Williams & Johnston 1976) and a simplified version for didactical purposes set up by C.D. Pigott in the Botanical Garden of the University of Lancaster. Because we could not find a suitable grassland on poor soil we decided to start with a very rich soil and try to induce several changes leading to poorer soil conditions.

Nomenclature follows Heukels-van Ooststroom, Flora van Nederland, 18e druk, Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen, 1975.

Vegetation and soil analyses were mainly carried out by students in the framework of their study for the degree of doctorandus in biology: Ineke Opbroek, Ferdinand Baggerman (1970), Carla Veldhuis (1971–1972), the late Doeke Dijken (1971–1973), Jos Rijpert (1972), the Rev. Piet van der Aart, Jo Louppen (1973), Frank Verhoeven (1974), Maurits Heine (1975), Ad Peters (1976), Huub Muyres, Louis Fliervoet (1976, 1977), Emilia Peters (1977), Niek Joanknecht, Thijs Lavrijsen (1977, 1978).

The present contribution is largely based on their internal reports. I also acknowledge the help of drs. A.J. Kempers (Div. of Soil Science) and Dr. G.W.M. Barendse (Botanical Garden).