Cut bracken and rotovate

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

10%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Cutting bracken may help to control its cover and density by removing aboveground fronds, while rotovating could damage plant rhizomes which may further help to control the spread of the species.

Study locations

Key messages

One controlled study in the UK found that cutting followed by rotovating to control bracken did not increase total plant biomass or biomass of heather.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A randomized, controlled trial in 1978–1986 in a heathland in Suffolk, UK (Lowday & Marrs 1992) found that rotovating soil after removal of bracken Pteridium aquilinium did not increase total plant biomass or biomass of heather Calluna vulgaris when compared to plots that were not rotovated (data reported in log units). In 1978 all plots were sprayed with the herbicide asulam. Four 12 m² plots were rotovated to dig bracken leaf litter into soil and four plots were not rotovated. Vegetation was visually estimated annually in each plot in June or July in 1979–1986
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Lowday J.E. & Marrs R.H. (1992) Control of bracken and restoration of heathland. III. Bracken litter disturbance and heathland restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology, 29, 212-217.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Shrubland and Heathland Conservation. Pages 483-525 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Cut to control bracken Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	8	Synopsis Link
Use herbicide and grazing to control bracken Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Use herbicide and remove leaf litter to control bracken Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link