The influence of soil fertility and light intensity on field layer development in urban secondary woodlands
Abstract
The study investigated the influence of soil fertility and light climate on field layer development in urban secondary woodlands with an introduced ground flora, with the aim of contributing towards ground flora enhancement methodology and sympathetic secondary woodland management. The investigation was based on a series of complementary field and greenhouse replicated plot, single and multiple factor experiments. Multivariate analyses of vegetation response and measurements of soil fertility, light climate and other environmental variables were used to examine the influence of soil fertility and light climate in combination and in interaction on field layer community establishment from seed. Light intensity (PAR) was a major determinant of ground flora development and was readily manipulated by canopy thinning. Optimum dark phase irradiance, for the successful establishment of introduced species, was 5-20% of ambient PAR (photosynthetically active radiation). This was achieved in both field experiments by removing 50% canopy cover from varied canopy starting points (i.e. simple monospecific vs. multi-layered mixed). All introduced species grew well across the full range of soil conditions in the experimental programme. Soil fertility was a major determinant of field layer development, although its influence was usually secondary to that of light intensity. The relative importance of different aspects of soil fertility were less predictable than those of the light climate. Fertilisation enhanced nutrient uptake and ground flora establishment in woodland plots, which were buffered from edge effects, although fertilisation is unlikely to prove viable or ethical in most woodland restoration schemes. The interaction between soil fertility and light intensity enhanced introductions in the field, but reduced their success in the artificial ground flora communities of the polytunnel, encouraging negative competition from arable weeds. High soil fertility appears not to be such an obstacle to diversity in woodland as it is in grassland restoration schemes, provided that the stand is protected from edge effects by a large buffer zone, ensuring adequate distance from weed seed sources. Sites where high soil fertility and irradiance combine are liable to domination by the non-woodland grasses, necessitating herbicide pre-treatment, which will reduce rather than enhance, existing niche heterogeneity. Thinning, and the associated disturbance, influenced light intensity, soil fertility (e.g. by increasing mineralisable nitrogen) and other environmental variables which combined to determine niche space. Thinning can be used to augment the existing niche heterogeneity provided by the canopy, litter layer, spontaneous vegetation and background soil environment. Optimal litter cover was 15-40% and optimal cover of bare ground and bryophytes were within the range 10-40%. It is recommended that no sub optimal environmental variable cover be over 25% of site area and that a mosaic effect is sought.Publisher
University of WolverhamptonType
Thesis or dissertationLanguage
enDescription
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyCollections
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