Summary
A sod-cutting and fertilization experiment was performed on a Calluna-dominated heathland in The Netherlands to determine appropriate management regimes for Calluna regeneration, and to further understand the nutrient responses of heathland species. Replicated permanent plots were analysed by multivariate techniques. Sod-cutting alone caused Calluna regeneration from its soil seed bank. A single fertilization at the start of the experiment caused initial vegetation differences which disappeared after a few years as the nutrients were lost from the system, except that one application of nitrogen enhanced the rate of Calluna regeneration. Repeated fertilization caused large differences in the vegetation: repeated nitrogen enhanced several bryophyte species while greatly inhibiting Calluna, repeated phosphate partly inhibited Calluna while greatly favouring several lichen species, and the most striking result of repeated calcium was also an increase in bryophytes, but the species were different from those favoured by nitrogen. Treatments which inhibited Calluna tended to increase species diversity because of the lessened Calluna dominance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barkman JJ (1959) Phytosociology and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes. Van Gorcum Assen
Brunsting AMH (1982) The influence of the dynamics of a population of herbivorous beetles on the development of vegetational patterns in a heathland system. Proc 5th Int Symp Insect Plant rel Wageningen March 1982. Pudoc, Wageningen, pp 215–223
De Smidt JT (1977) Heathland vegetation in the Netherlands. Phytocoenologia 4:258–316
De Smidt JT (1979) Origin and destruction of northwest European heath vegetation. In: Wilmans O, Tüxen R (eds) Werden und Vergehen von Pflanzengesellschaften. Cramer, Vaduz, p 410–435
Gauch HG, Whittaker RH (1981) Hierarchical classification of community data J Ecol 69:537–557
Gimingham CH (1972) Ecology of heathlands. Chapman & Hall, London
Gimingham CH, De Smidt JT (1983) Heaths as natural and seminatural vegetation. In: Holzner W, Werger MJA, Ikusima I (eds) Man's impact upon vegetation. Junk, The Hague, pp 185–199
Heukels H, Van Ooststroom SJ (1975) Flora van Nederland. 17e ed. Noordhoff, Groningen
Hill MO, Bunce RGH, Shaw MW (1975) Indicator species analysis; a divisive polythetic method of classification, and its application to a survey of native pinewoods in Scotland. J Ecol 63:597–613
Hill MO, Gauch HG (1980) Detrended correspondence analysis: an improved ordination technique. Vegetatio 42:47–58
Kinzel H (1982) Pflanzenökologie und Mineralstoffwechsel. Ulmer, Stuttgart
Margadant WD, During HJ (1982) Beknopte mosflora van Nederland. thieme, Zutphen
Poelt J (1969) Schlüssel europäischer Flechten. Cramer, Lehre
Simpson EH (1949) The measurement of diversity. Nature 163:688
Smeets PJAM, Werger MJA, Tevonderen HAJ (1980) Vegetation changes in a moist grassland under altered water conditions. Biol Cons 18:123–142
Syers JK, Iskander IK (1973) pedogenetic significance of lichens. In: Ahmadjian V, Hale ME (eds) The Lichens. Academic Press, London pp 225–248
Topham PB (1977) Colonization, growth, succession and competition. In: Seaward MRD (ed) Lichen Ecology. Academic Press, London pp 31–68
Westhoff V, Bakker PA, Van Leeuwen CG, Van der Voo EE (1970–73) Wilde planten. 3 Vols. 's Graveland: Ver Beh Nat Monum
Whittaker RH (1965) Dominance and diversity in land plant communities. Science 147:250–260
Whittaker RH (1972) Evolution and measurement of species diversity. Taxon 21:213–251
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Helsper, H.P.G., Glenn-Lewin, D. & Werger, M.J.A. Early regeneration of Calluna heathland under various fertilization treatments. Oecologia 58, 208–214 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399218
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399218