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Throughout tropical moist climates, Dicranopteris linearis fernlands can develop as a result of rain forest clearance followed by frequent burning. In Sri Lanka, D. linearis fern‐lands are capable of suppressing the regeneration of rain forest. Field experiments were conducted at Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve, a rain forest where fernlands occupy substantial areas of the reserve boundary. The experiment's objective was to identify methods for initiating forest regeneration in fernlands dominated by D. linearis Three disturbance treatments were used to initiate seedling regeneration: clean weed, root removal, and till. We hypothesized that increasing the severity of the soil disturbance would establish vegetation with higher species richness and diversity, greater above‐ground dry biomass, and higher percentage cover and seedling density. Results indicate only partial support for this hypothesis. Dry biomass was greatest in till treatments, the most severe soil disturbance. By comparison, species richness and diversity, seedling density, and percentage cover were greatest in root‐removal treatments, though in many instances the differences were not significant. The study clearly demonstrated that any kind of soil disturbance can facilitate the establishment of herbs, shrubs, and trees in a fernland dominated by D. linearis. Results showed that herbs, sedges, grasses, and pioneer shrubs represented greater proportions of seedling recruits than did pioneer trees. Seedlings of primary‐forest tree species were nearly nonexistent. In general, results showed that soil disturbance can play an important role in site preparation for the purpose of initiating non‐fern vegetation in fernlands dominated by D. linearis.

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This study investigated the effects of light and soil fertility, on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, and the growth responses (height and dry mass) of Syzygium seedlings. Seedlings of four Syzygium spp. were grown for 2 y in six different light treatments at the research station of the Sinharaja Forest, Sri Lanka. The light treatments exposed seedlings to: (1) 3%; (2) 16%; (3) 50%; (4) 100% of full sun (control); (5) short periods (2 h d−1) of direct sunlight; and (6) long periods (6 h d−1) of direct sunlight. In the 16% of full sun treatment five sets of fertilizer applications supplied: (1) magnesium; (2) potassium; (3) phosphorus; (4) all three nutrients combined; and (5) no fertilizer (control). The Syzygium species had the greatest mycorrhizal colonization in brighter treatments that provided direct light. Comparison across species revealed S. firmum to have moderate mycorrhizal colonization but high total dry mass. Syzygium operculatum had high percentages of mycorrhizal colonization while S. rubicundum had low percentages of mycorrhizal colonization especially in deep shade. Syzygium makul showed moderate levels of mycorrhizal colonization and dry mass, but low height growth. Among fertilizer applications, phosphorus enhanced seedling growth and mycorrhizal colonization for all species. However, species showed decreased growth with high amounts of potassium and combined fertilizer applications. Results suggest that AMF colonization will be highest, and Syzygium spp. growth greatest, beneath canopy openings large enough to receive direct sun in phosphorus-rich soils.