An Experimental Approach to the Reclamation of a Limestone Quarry Floor: The First Three Years

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean M. Dixon ◽  
David J. Hambler
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Limestone Quarry ◽  
Pioneer Vegetation ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Npk Fertilizer ◽  
Immigrant Species ◽  
Moss Community

‘Three-inch [7.5 cm] crusher-run’ limestone proved entirely suitable as a substratum for the rapid establishment of pioneer vegetation on a quarry floor, but only with the addition of fertilizers. A manure derived from sewage and an NPK fertilizer mixture proved suitable additives. A grass variety (Festuca rubra var. fallax Hack.) was sown, and became established on the substratum treated with either additive. Immigrant mosses soon became dominant in a grass/moss community on the manured substratum, whilst F. rubra retained its ascendancy on the NPK-treated material. The moss-dominated community was not attractive to Rabbits, whereas the grass-dominated community proved attractive to these animals which are accepted as beneficial for conservation in this particular context.Further observations are required to assess (a) whether the by-passing of a cryptogamic stage in the prisere encouraged by the NPK mixture is a worthwhile objective, (b) whether the observed dominance of mosses encouraged by manure will be broken by F. rubra, and (c) whether the establishment of desirable immigrant species occurs differentially between the treatments. Meanwhile a perceptible degree of rehabilitation within three years may be claimed as a result of treatments producing a total plant cover of between 40% and 70%.

An Experimental Approach to the Reclamation of a Limestone Quarry Floor: the Fourth to Seventh Years

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Hambler ◽  
Jean M. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Limestone Quarry ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Epilobium Angustifolium ◽  
Improved Performance

An experiment to suggest a technique for rehabilitation of a hard-limestone quarry floor in northern England was carried into its seventh year (see also Dixon & Hambler, 1984). The stress-tolerant grass Festuca rubra var. fallax Hack, cultivar Cascade proved suitable as a primary colonist, especially when sown onto rubble treated with a powdery manure derived from sewage. The community so produced was composed mainly of F. rubra and mosses, their proportions varying reciprocally with time but remaining approximately stable in a series of summer estimates of percentage cover.The dry-weight per unit area of this vegetation, and that of other experimental sets, did not increase between the third and sixth years of the experiment. The organic content of the developing soil, however, increased considerably. Trifolium repens, where sown with the grass, had no obvious ecological impact, although its improved performance on Rabbit ‘middens’ indicated the general nutrient deficiency of the site.A net flow of immigrant flowering-plants into the experimental site slowed down by the seventh year. Limestone grassland species arrived but the most abundant species were ruderals. All of the potentially large ruderal species failed to attain their full competitive potential, as did F. rubra. The community dominated by F. rubra and mosses proved unfavourable for the establishment of both Poa annua and Epilobium angustifolium— the latter being regarded as a particularly undesirable weed in this context.The concept of visual acceptability was applied as a measure of the success of each sowing/treatment combination; the most successful might be recommended for rehabilitation of a worked-out limestone quarry.

Structure of cliff vegetation on exposed cliffs and the effect of rock climbing

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Nuzzo
Keyword(s):  
Plant Cover ◽  
Rock Climbing ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rock Fracturing ◽  
Community Groups ◽  
Bare Rock ◽  
Lichen Cover ◽  
Cliff Vegetation ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
The Impact

Vegetational structure of exposed dolomitic cliffs in the driftless region of northwest Illinois was quantified from 186 quadrats on five cliffs. All cliffs were sparsely vegetated, with a total of 41 species (14 lichen and 27 vascular) recorded in the upper 6 m. On all cliffs, cover averaged 16.03%, with lichen contributing 10.23% cover and vascular vegetation 5.80% cover. Seventy percent of all vegetation grew within 3 m of the cliff top. Linear regression indicated that both cover and density of vascular, but not lichen, flora increased with increased fracturing and decreased with distance from the cliff top. TWINSPAN arranged the quadrats into five groups that differed in lichen and vascular cover and a sixth group that consisted of bare rock. Spatial distribution of the community groups occurred at a small scale, influenced by small scale differences in rock fracturing, slope, weathering, and likely moisture availability. Climbing significantly reduced lichen cover and lichen species density by 50%, from 13.7% cover and 2.4 species/0.25 m2 on unclimbed cliffs, to 6.7% cover and 1.2 species/0.25 m2 on climbed cliffs. Climbing did not have an apparent effect on vascular vegetation, which ranged from 2.74 to 10.62% cover on individual cliffs. Total plant cover averaged 19.7% on three unclimbed cliffs and 12.3% on two climbed cliffs, because of the impact on lichen cover. Although climbed cliffs had lower lichen cover, distribution of TWINSPAN-defined community groups was similar on both climbed and unclimbed cliffs, indicating that environmental and physical variables were the primary determinants of cliff flora on these vertical exposed cliffs. Keywords: cliff, vegetation, lichen, rock climbing, rock fractures.

scholarly journals Erosion control blankets, organic amendments and site variability influenced the initial plant community at a limestone quarry in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 5243-5253 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Cohen-Fernández ◽  
M. A. Naeth
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Limestone Quarry ◽  
Wood Shavings

Abstract. Season of seeding and soil amendment with manure mix, wood shavings and erosion control blankets were evaluated over two growing seasons to determine their effect on soil properties and native grass establishment at a Canadian limestone quarry and lime processing plant. A season (fall, spring) of soil amending and seeding did not significantly affect revegetation or soil properties. Site characteristics such as slope, aspect, initial soil nutrients and surrounding plant communities influenced early plant community development and overall effects of soil treatments. Erosion control blankets resulted in the highest seeded plant cover and the lowest non-seeded plant cover despite not significantly changing soil chemical properties. Total nitrogen and carbon significantly increased establishment of seeded grasses and non-seeded species. Increased nitrogen and carbon in the constructed soils were best achieved through addition of manure. Wood shavings did not favour establishment of vegetation and resulted in similar, and in some cases less, vegetation than the controls. Assisted revegetation increased plant cover from < 6 to 50% and reduced cover of non-seeded species. Amendments that modified both chemical and physical soil conditions were best to increase vegetation establishment in the harsh conditions of the quarry.

Do changes in soil properties after rooting by wild boars (Sus scrofa) affect understory vegetation in Swiss hardwood forests?

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Wirthner ◽  
Martin Schütz ◽  
Deborah S. Page-Dumroese ◽  
Matt D. Busse ◽  
James W. Kirchner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
C And N ◽  
Wild Boar Rooting

Recovering from small fragmented populations, wild boars ( Sus scrofa L.) have considerably increased their numbers and their habitat range in many European countries during the past two decades. Although several studies have focused on the impact of wild boar rooting on selected vegetation properties, little is known about effects on entire forest ecosystems. The main goal of our study was to assess how rooting by boars alters soil and vegetation properties. We measured soil chemical and biological properties (C and N concentrations, N availability, and microbial biomass C) as well as several vegetation characteristics (total plant cover, plant species diversity, and number and height of saplings) on paired rooted and non-rooted plots in six hardwood forests in Switzerland. We found that rooting by wild boars led to significant increases in mineral soil C and N concentrations and microbial biomass C, which could lead to improved growth conditions for plants. However, total plant cover and sapling counts were reduced on rooted plots, possibly due to mechanical disturbance or due to reduced plant available N (measured as supply rate in contrast with the observed increase in total stocks of mineral soil N). In view of these results, simple characterizations of wild boar rooting as beneficial or detrimental to forest ecosystems should be handled with care.

scholarly journals Aplikasi Integrasi Pupuk NPK Dengan Waktu Pemberian Pupuk Organik Cair Pada Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.)

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Yance N Ayal ◽  
Henry Kesaulya ◽  
Francina Matulessy
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Leaf Number ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Plant Weight ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Npk Fertilizer

This research was aimed to get the optimum NPK fertilizer dosage with the time of liquid organic fertilizer application to support the growth and yield of pakcoy (Brassica rappa L.). The study used a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Observation variables included plant height, leaf number, leaf area, total plant weight, root length, root weight and total plant weight percentage. The results showed that N0 (without NPK fertilizer) was the best based on the plant height and leaf number. Liquid organic fertilizer given at 3-time applications per plant (W3) contributed significantly to leaf number at 35 days after planting and gave the highest yield of leaves, with 17,45 leaves. The treatment of NPK compound fertilizer dosage with the time of liquid organic fertilizer gave significant effects on the leaf area, total plant weight, root length, and root weight. Keywords: liquid organic fertilizer, NPK, pakcoy   ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan dosis pupuk NPK dengan waktu plikasi pupuk organik cair yang tepat untuk menunjang pertumbuhan danp roduksi tanaman pakcoy (Brassica rappa L.). Penelitian mengunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan tiga ulangan. Peubah-peubah pengamatan meliputi tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, luas daun, berat total tanaman, panjang akar, berat akar dan persentase berat total tanaman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan N0 (tanpa pupuk NPK) merupakan yang terbaik dari penelitian ini terhadap parameter tinggi tanaman dan jumlah daun. Waktu pemberian pupuk organik cair 3 kali/tanaman (perlakuan W3) memberikan kontribusi yang signifikan terhadap jumlah daun 35 hari setelah tanam dan menghasilkan daun terbanyak dengan jumlah 17,45 helai. Perlakuan dosis pupuk majemuk NPK dengan waktu pemberian pupuk organik cair memberikan pengaruh yang nyata sampai sangat nyata terhadap luas daun, berat total tanaman, panjang akar serta berat akar. Kata kunci: NPK, pakcoy, pupuk organik cair

Natural vegetation and ecology of abandoned coal-mined land, Rocky Mountain Foothills, Alberta, Canada

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 1286-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. Russell ◽  
G. H. La Roi
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Total Plant

The natural vegetation and spoils of two abandoned, unreclaimed coal mines in the Mountain Park area were studied quantitatively in 34 stands. After 26 years of abandonment the vegetation of both Townsite and West Mine was sparse. Total plant cover was usually < 10% and isolated plants were common. The communities were dominated by perennial grasses and forbs. Seven plant community types were recognized: (i) Festuca rubra – Epilobium angustifolium, (ii) Agropyron latiglume –Agropyron repens, and (iii) Agropyron spp. – Artemisia borealis on the Townsite; and (iv) Equisetum arvense – Potentilla fruticosa, (v) Agoseris glauca – Crepis nana, (vi) Agropyron latiglume – Crepis elegans, and (vii) Crepis nana – Eriogonum androsaceum on the West Mine. The spoil materials were generally coarse textured and structureless, consisting of rock fragments and loose single grains. Spoil samples were analysed for 20 physical and chemical properties. Variation in spoil properties appeared to strongly influence plant distribution and community development. Total plant cover and species richness were correlated with several spoil properties; highest correlations were with fine earth content (<2 mm) and clay content on the Townsite and West Mine sites, respectively. Slope position strongly influenced plant distribution on both study sites. Total plant cover, species richness, and the frequency of most species were highest at the slope base and lowest at the upper slope, midslope, and (or) crest positions. The sites were only 1.2 km apart, differed only 30 m in elevation, and were abandoned for the same length of time. Nevertheless, they differed edaphically and supported significantly different plant communities.

Testing sudden shifts in drylands through manipulative mesocosm experiments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Bautista ◽  
Francisco Fornieles ◽  
David Fuentes ◽  
Anna M Urgeghe ◽  
Diana Turrión ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Surface Condition ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Mesocosm Experiments ◽  
Small Change ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Lower Capacity

&lt;p&gt;A variety of theoretical and observational works indicate that drylands may experience sudden shifts from functional to degraded states in response to gradual increases in human and climatic pressures. However, there is little experimental testing of the factors and processes that control sudden shifts in drylands. Adopting a combination of mesocosms and manipulative experimental approach, we assessed the occurrence of sudden transitions towards degraded states in response to increasing pressure, and investigated the mechanisms underlying the observed dynamics. We mimicked a gradually increasing pressure of grazing and wood gathering by removing increasing amounts of vegetation on a series of experimental plots and mesocosms. We then monitored the impact of such gradient of pressure on runoff and sediment yield, vegetation dynamics, bare-soil connectivity and soil-surface condition over a 7-year period.&amp;#160; Overall, our results support that decreasing plant cover nonlinearly increases the loss of resources from the system and may trigger a change to a degraded state. Within the range from 40% to 30 % vegetation cover, a small change in the cover percentage resulted in a turning point in both the vegetation and the hydrological dynamics, driving the system to a new state that exhibited lower capacity for resource conservation all over the study period.&lt;/p&gt;

A classification of terrestrial vegetation near McMurdo Sound, continental Antarctica

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 2339-2346 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Longton
Keyword(s):  
Plant Cover ◽  
Terrestrial Vegetation ◽  
Mcmurdo Sound ◽  
Exposed Rock ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Sand And Gravel ◽  
The Antarctic

Eleven plant sociations are reported from the McMurdo Sound region of continental Antarctica, and they are grouped in the Alga, Fruticose and Foliose Lichen; Crustaceous Lichen; and Short Moss Turf and Cushion subformations of the Antarctic Non-vascular Cryptogam Tundra formation. Their inclusion necessitated only minor modification of a vegetation classification developed in the maritime Antarctic.The most widespread vegetation consisted of sparsely developed communities of turf- and cushion-forming mosses in habitats ranging from dry cinder slopes to sand and gravel in seepage areas and by meltwater streams. The bryophyte colonies seldom exceeded 4 cm in depth, and although total plant cover within the communities locally reached 85%, it was more frequently under 5%. The Sarconeunim association appeared to tolerate more arid conditions than the Bryum association, whose communities occasionally merged with algal sociations occupying certain of the streams. Exposed rock habitats normally supported at most small scattered thalli of crustaceous lichens, well-developed lichen communities being rare.

Root growth in a polar semidesert environment

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (20) ◽  
pp. 2470-2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Bell ◽  
L. C. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Moisture Gradient ◽  
Small Roots ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
Root:Shoot Ratios

Within the northwestern islands of the High Arctic, the vegetation and flora of King Christian Island are very representative. Five plant communities were recognized in a moisture gradient from a moss–rush moist meadow with 22 species of vascular plants and 13% cover (total plant cover 93%) to lichen barrens on low ridges with 8 species of vascular plants and 3% cover (total plant cover 24%). Root systems of 30 of the 34 known vascular plant species were examined. Root:shoot ratios (alive) are generally 0.2 to 0.7. Roots are estimated to live 1.5 years in Phippsia algida, 3.4–3.7 years in Alopecurus alpinus and Puccinellia vaginata, and 7–13 years in Luzula nivalis, L. confuse), and Cerastium arcticum. Optimal root growth occurs at 12 to 20 °C but cold field soils (1 to 3 °C) reduce these rates by 90%. Root growth was also reduced by low soil water potentials (< − 14 bars (1 bar = 100 kPa)), conditions seldom encountered in these sites. Limited root growth due to cold soils is combined with the adaptive advantages of small roots to produce small plants and sparse cover in these polar semidesert lands.

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