Study

Managing heather moorland: impacts of burning and cutting on Calluna regeneration

  • Published source details Liepert C., Gardner S. & Rees S. (1993) Managing heather moorland: impacts of burning and cutting on Calluna regeneration. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 36, 283-293.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Reinstate the use of traditional burning practices

Action Link
Shrubland and Heathland Conservation
  1. Reinstate the use of traditional burning practices

    A replicated study in 1987–1989 in a moorland site in the Yorkshire, UK (Liepert et al. 1993) found that heather Calluna vulgaris regeneration was similar in burned and cut areas. After two years, cover of heather did not differ between burned (young heather: 58%; old heather: 29%) and cut areas (young heather: 77%; old heather: 17%). Additionally, after two years, neither shoot nor seedling growth differed significantly between burned (shoot: 37 cm; seedling: 21 cm) and cut areas (shoot: 34 cm; seedling: 26 cm). Heather was burned in six plots and cut in six others. During the study the plots were exposed to light grazing by sheep. Vegetation was sampled annually in July using 0.25 m2 quadrants placed in the centre of each plot.

    (Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)

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