Techniques for restoring fen vegetation on cut-away peatlands in North America
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Published source details
Graf M.D. & Rochefort L. (2008) Techniques for restoring fen vegetation on cut-away peatlands in North America. Applied Vegetation Science, 11, 521-528.
Published source details Graf M.D. & Rochefort L. (2008) Techniques for restoring fen vegetation on cut-away peatlands in North America. Applied Vegetation Science, 11, 521-528.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Add inorganic fertilizer (before/after planting) Action Link |
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Add mixed vegetation to peatland surface Action Link |
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Add inorganic fertilizer (before/after planting)
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled, before-and-after study in 2004–2006 in a historically mined bog in Quebec, Canada (Graf & Rochefort 2008) found that fertilizing plots sown with vegetation fragments increased cover of sedges Carex spp., but had no effect on cover of other vegetation or plant species richness. Before sowing, all plots were bare peat. After two years, sedge Carex spp. cover was higher in fertilized plots (8%) than unfertilized plots (2%). However, there was no significant difference between fertilized and unfertilized plots for vegetation cover (fertilized: 53%; unfertilized: 47%), Sphagnum moss cover (fertilized: 21%; unfertilized: 29%), total herb cover (data not reported) or plant species richness (data not reported). In May–August 2004, vegetation fragments from Sphagnum-dominated fens were spread onto five pairs of cleared and levelled 5 x 6 m plots. Note that the aim of this study was to create a fen, as the post-mining peat chemistry was more like a fen than a bog. Five plots (one random plot/pair) were fertilized with rock phosphate (15 g/m2). The other plots were not fertilized. All plots were mulched with straw. In September 2006, cover of every plant species was estimated in 10–20 quadrats/plot.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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Add mixed vegetation to peatland surface
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled, before-and-after study in 2004–2006 in a historically mined bog in Quebec, Canada (Graf & Rochefort 2008) found that plots sown with vegetation fragments developed greater plant species richness and Sphagnum moss cover than unsown plots, but similar total vegetation and herb cover. Before sowing, plots were bare peat. After two years, sown 30 m2 plots contained more plant species than unsown plots (24 vs 22) and had greater Sphagnum cover (13 vs 0%). There was no significant difference between sown and unsown plots for total vegetation cover (41 vs 36%), total herb cover (approximately 30%) or sedge Carex spp. cover (3 vs 2%). The study also found greater total vegetation, Sphagnum and sedge cover in plots receiving vegetation from moss-dominated fens than from grass-dominated fens (see original paper). Note that the aim of this study was to create a fen, as the post-mining peat chemistry was more like a fen than a bog. In May–August 2004, vegetation fragments from moss- or grass-dominated fens were spread onto 30 cleared and levelled 5 x 6 m plots. Ten similar plots received no donor material. Some sown and unsown plots were also fertilized and mulched with straw. In September 2006, cover of every plant species was estimated in 10–20 quadrats/plot.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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