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Effects of removal of organic matter on the productivity of heathlands
Author(s) -
Diemont W.H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3235864
Subject(s) - agronomy , biology , productivity , biomass (ecology) , botany , macroeconomics , economics
. Effects of milling, mowing and sod cutting on productivity in a Deschampsia grass heath and a Molinia‐Deschampsia grass heath were studied from 1977 to 1986. The sum of above‐ground biomass, litter and accumulated humified matter (TOM) in both types was ca. 70 ton/ha and the primary productivity 3–5 ton ha ‐1 yr ‐1 . Mulching did not affect the annual production. Sod cutting reduced the productivity to 1–2 ton ha ‐1 yr ‐1 ; on the Molinia‐Deschampsia site this reduction lasted for at least a decade, while the Deschampsia heath started to recover from sod cutting soon and increased in productivity again. Annual mowing both with and without removal of hay reduced the production as well, particularly on the Molinia‐Deschampsia heath. Lower production was either the result of phosphorus depletion ‐ Molinia‐Deschampsia site ‐ or nitrogen depletion ‐ Deschampsia site. In the mowing treatments there was also a depletion of carbohydrate reserves.