A comparison of soil fertility between semi-natural and agricultural plant communities: Implications for the creations of species-rich grassland on abondoned agricultural land

Gough, M.W.; Marrs, R. H.

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(90)90104-w

Cited by 158 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The soil nutrient levels encountered in the three fields corresponded to those previously observed in species-rich grasslands (Gough and Marrs 1990;Janssens et al 1998;Ko¨hler et al 2001). Janssens et al (1998) compared 281 different fields throughout Atlantic Europe and found total N to vary between 1 and 12 g/kg dry soil.…”

supporting

confidence: 83%

The Relation Between Unpalatable Species, Nutrients and Plant Species Richness in Swiss Montane Pastures

Kleijn

Müller‐Schärer

2006

Biodivers Conserv

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Abstract. In agriculturally marginal areas, the control of unpalatable weeds on species rich pastures may become problematic due to agricultural and socio-economic developments. It is unclear how increased dominance of unpalatable species would affect the botanical diversity of these grasslands. We investigated whether there was any relationship between plant species diversity and the abundance of unpalatable species and whether soil conditions affected this relationship. In three species-rich montane pastures in western Switzerland, we related plant species richness to soil attributes, the relative cover of all unpalatable species and the relative cover of the locally dominant, toxic Veratrum album in 25 plots of 4 m 2 . We furthermore determined species richness in small transects through patches of V. album. Species richness was significantly lower in and near ( £ 0.3 m) patches of V. album. At the field scale, plant species richness was best described by total soil N:P ratio (positive relation) in one site and the relative abundance of unpalatable species (negative relation) and soil N:P ratio (positive relation) in a second site. In the third site, species richness was not significantly related to any measured variable. Vegetation diversity (Simpson's D) was negatively related to the relative abundance of unpalatable species in one site and positively related to pH in another site. The results suggest that no single factor can explain plant species richness and diversity in montane pastures. At very high densities unpalatable species can have adverse effects but soil nutrient status appears to be a more general determinant of plant species richness. Conservation efforts should give priority to the prevention of intensification of these pastures.

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confidence: 83%

The Relation Between Unpalatable Species, Nutrients and Plant Species Richness in Swiss Montane Pastures

Kleijn

Müller‐Schärer

2006

Biodivers Conserv

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“…Current management for the restoration of grassland in Western Europe often aims at transforming productive, species-poor grasslands into less productive grasslands with a high species density (Park 1988;Bakker 1989;Gough & Marrs 1990). These speciesrich grassland communities have become rare because of intensification of agricultural practices (fertilization, frequent cutting and lowering of the groundwater table).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Vegetation Management and Raising the Water Table on Nutrient Dynamics and Vegetation Change in a Wet Grassland

Oomes¹,

Olff²,

Altena³

1996

The Journal of Applied Ecology

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Effects of vegetation management and raising the water table on nutrient dynamics and vegetation change in a wet grassland Oomes, M.J.M.; Olff, H.; Altena, H.J.Published in: Journal of Applied Ecology IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document VersionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date : 1996 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Oomes, M. J. M., Olff, H., & Altena, H. J. (1996). Effects of vegetation management and raising the water table on nutrient dynamics and vegetation change in a wet grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology, 33(3), 576-588. CopyrightOther than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons).Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. The results of a restoration experiment carried out on a permanent grassland on peaty, heavy clay in the Netherlands are described. The experiment started in 1985, 7 years after fertilizer application had ceased, and was designed to provide insight into ecologically significant processes accompanying restoration. An analysis was made of the effect of management regime and of raising the water table on nutrient availability, dry matter production, tissue nutrient concentration, dynamics of species numbers and plant species replacement. Three management practices were compared: cutting and removal (RR), cutting and mulching (MM), sod removal in 1985, and thereafter cutting and removal of the hay (RS). Data are presented on changes during a 5-year period. 2. No trend was discernible in soil pH, total C, N and P in the RR treatment; extractable P and K decreased sharply in the field with the raised groundwater level. 3. Nine years after fertilizer application ceased, dry matter production had fallen from 10-11 to 6-7 t ha-l yearly. In the subsequent 5 years of the experiment it declined to 5-6 t ha-' year' when all cut biomass was removed, and to about 4 t ha-' year' after sod removal. Mulching caused an increase to 11 t ha-' year'. No effect was seen of the raised water level. 4. The dry matter yield of the first June cut in the RR treatment decreased. The tissue K concentration also decreased, but no increase of the tissue P concentration was detected. It was concluded that the availability of K and to some extent of P was more important than N availability in explaining the decrease in dry matter production. Th...

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“…In spite of the fact that P is a nutritional limiting factor for algal growth [12,13] that can substantially increase the risk of eutrophication in waterbodies, more attention was paid to N due to the EU Nitrate Directive. This makes sense if we focus on the quality of drinking water, as some human health problems such as methemoglobinemia are associated with high nitrate concentrations [6,14].…”

Section: Nitrate Directivementioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of P Loss from Livestock Farms to Watercourses in Wensleydale; A Risk Mapping Approach

G¹

2015

Forest Res

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Hydrologic, chemical and physical factors controlling P export from 10 livestock farms located in Wensleydale were considered in order to estimate the risk of P loss to surface waters in a Non Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (non NVZ). Phosphorus source factors were obtained from a farm investigation questionnaire as well as from soil analysis results. Transport factors were examined using a GIS as a tool to implement a predictive model of delivery of P to watercourses. The classification of grassland into different risk categories was carried out using the Pennsylvanian P Index in a GIS. Finally, this risk assessment has yielded that non NVZ areas can pose a risk of breaching the Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives. A wide range of mechanisms including voluntary schemes are needed in order to reach good ecological status of freshwaters by 2015 in the UK.

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A comparison of soil fertility between semi-natural and agricultural plant communities: Implications for the creations of species-rich grassland on abondoned agricultural land

Cited by 158 publications

References 11 publications

The Relation Between Unpalatable Species, Nutrients and Plant Species Richness in Swiss Montane Pastures

The Relation Between Unpalatable Species, Nutrients and Plant Species Richness in Swiss Montane Pastures

Effects of Vegetation Management and Raising the Water Table on Nutrient Dynamics and Vegetation Change in a Wet Grassland

The Potential of P Loss from Livestock Farms to Watercourses in Wensleydale; A Risk Mapping Approach

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