Change to ecosystem properties through changing the dominant species: Impact of Pteridium aquilinum -control and heathland restoration treatments on selected soil properties

Abstract

It is well known that soils are influenced by the plant species that grow in them. Here we consider the effects of management-induced changes to plant communities and their soils during restoration within a 20-year manipulative experiment where the aim was to change a late-successional community dominated by the weed, Pteridium aquilinum, to an earlier-successional grass-heath one. The ecological restoration treatments altered the above- and below-ground components of the community substantially. Untreated plots maintained a dense Pteridium cover with little understory vegetation, cutting treatments produce significant reductions of Pteridium, whereas herbicide (asulam) produced significant immediate reductions in Pteridium but regressed towards the untreated plots within 10 years. Thereafter, all asulam-treated plots were re-treated in year 11, and then were spot-sprayed annually. Both cutting and asulam treatments reduced frond density to almost zero and resulted in a grass-heath vegetation. There was also a massive change in biomass distribution, untreated plots had a large above-ground biomass/necromass that was much reduced where Pteridium was controlled. Below-ground in treated plots, there was a replacement of the substantive Pteridium rhizome mass with a much greater root mass of other species. The combined effects of Pteridium-control and restoration treatment, reduced soil total C and N as and available P concentrations, but increased soil pH and available N. Soil biological activity was also affected with a reduction in soil N mineralization rate, but an increased soil-root respiration. Multivariate analysis showed a clear trend along a pH/organic matter gradient, with movement along it correlated to management intensity from the untreated plots with low pH/high organic matter and treated plots with to a higher pH/lower organic matter in the sequence asulam treatment, cut once per year to cut twice per year. The role that these changed soil conditions might have in restricting Pteridium recovery are discussed.

Digital mapping of soil ecosystem services in Scotland using neural networks and relationship modelling. Part 2: Mapping of soil ecosystem services

“…Examples of scenarios that could be explored include conversion of grassland to forestry, different combinations of crop rotation and ploughing activities or the effects of individual crop types under various climate change scenarios. It would also be possible to predict the effects of proposed landscape restoration options across a range of ecosystem services and compare these with observed changes (e.g., with the results of works such as by Milligan et al., ). It is also necessary to identify uncertainties in the effects of management practice, where the management may be adapted to the specific location.…”

Evaluation of plant species suitability for lowland forest landscape restoration in Lepan watersheds, Langkat District, North Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Good soil conditions will affect the growth of existing plants (Strobla et al 2018). Each plant has specific growth requirements which are a criterion based on the physical and chemical properties of soil (Milligan 2018;Hardjowigeno et al 2007 In Harapan Makmur Village also, H. brasiliensis is the most suitable plant based on soil physical and chemical characteristics. Thus, in all four villages of the Lepan watersheds, the most suitable plant species for restoration based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil are H. brasilliensis and N. lappaceum.…”

How long do bracken (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) control treatments maintain effectiveness?

“…The biocontrol methods that have been developed so far have not been widely implemented. Mechanical control needs to be applied annually for a considerable number of years (>10); with this approach the aim is to harvest the fronds continuously, thus depleting the rhizome reserves ( (Marrs et al, 1998;Måren et al, 2008;Milligan et al, 2016;Milligan et al, 2018)). For chemical control, a phloem-mobile herbicide is generally used; the herbicide is applied to the fronds and it is then translocated to the rhizomes where it attacks the active and dormant buds used to produce fronds (Veerasekaran et al, 1977a;Veerasekaran et al, 1977b;Veerasekaran et al, 1978).…”