Nutrient limitations in wet, drained and rewetted fen meadows: evaluation of methods and results |
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Authors: | IC Van Duren and DM Pegtel |
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Abstract: | Restoration of wet grassland communities on peat soils involves management of nutrient supply and hydrology. The concept of
nutrient limitation was discussed as well as its interaction with drainage and rewetting of severely drained peat soils. Different
methods of assessing nutrient limitation were compared and the type and extent of nutrient limitation were determined for
several wet grassland communities. It was concluded that a full-factorial field fertilisation experiment is the most preferable
method. Plant tissue analyses and soil chemical analyses were considered less suitable, although they may provide helpful
additional information. Fertilisation experiments in the laboratory using sods or using test plants appear to be the proper
means to study mechanisms or processes, but have a restricted predictive value for field situations. Generalising the results,
it seems that many relativily undisturbed grassland plant communities on peaty soils are characterised by N limitation. Phosphate
limitation for vegetation on peat soils is mainly observed in specific circumstances such as extreme calcium richness, high
concentrations of Fe or as a result of drainage or long-term hay cropping. The latter two may also cause K limitation. Rewetting
is regarded as a prerequisite in restoring wet grassland communities. Further restoration measures to influence nutrient availability
depend on aims of the management and the individual site conditions.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | drainage fertilisation nature management nitrogen nutrient contents nutrients peat phosphate potassium restoration rewetting shoot biomass species richness wetlands |
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