Can management compensate for atmospheric nutrient deposition in heathland ecosystems?

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

1. Atmospheric nutrient deposition has contributed to widespread changes in heathlands throughout Europe. As a consequence, management is now being considered as a potential tool with which to compensate for increased nutrient loads. Currently, only limited information is available on the extent to which management measures could compensate for atmospheric nutrient deposition. We hypothesized that low-intensity management measures are not sufficient to counterbalance current nutrient inputs, particularly of nitrogen (N). 2. In order to improve heathland management schemes, we evaluated the effectiveness of different management measures in reducing the impact of ongoing atmospheric nutrient loads. We compared the effects of mowing, prescribed burning (low-intensity management) and sod-cutting (high-intensity management) on heathland nutrient budgets [N, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P)] in the Lueneburg Heath nature reserve (north-west Germany). Nutrient balances were calculated by analysing the present-day input, the output as a result of the removal of biomass/humus horizons, and changes in leaching rates. 3. Nutrient losses by increased leaching following management measures were negligible compared with nutrient losses caused by the removal of above-ground biomass or humus horizons. The total quantities of nutrients removed by sod-cutting were equivalent to between 37 and 176 years of atmospheric input (for N, 89 years). 4. In contrast, the quantities of N removed by mowing and prescribed burning were equivalent to only 5 years of atmospheric input. Thus, heathlands subjected to such treatments will accumulate N in the long term. In addition, output-input ratios for phosphorus (P) exceeded those for N in the mowing and sod-cutting experiments. It is therefore likely that heathlands currently (co-) limited by N will shift to being more P-limited in the long term. This will promote species that are well adapted to P-limited sites (e.g. Molinia caerulea). 5. Synthesis and applications. This study shows that low-intensity management cannot compensate for atmospheric N loads in the long term. Consequently, high-intensity management measures are an indispensable tool in preserving a long-term balanced N budget in heathlands. In order to maintain a diverse structure, managers need to combine low- and high-intensity management measures. Prescribed burning proved to be the best means of avoiding an increasing P shortage, because this measure causes very low P outputs.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Journal of Applied Ecology
Volume43
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)759-769
Number of pages11
ISSN0021-8901
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.08.2006

    Research areas

  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Leaching, Mowing, N:P ratio, Nitrogen deposition, Nutrient balance, Prescribed burning, Sod-cutting

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. In the Aftermath of Violence. On Being Present and Calling Into Presence
  2. Multiple forest structural elements are needed to promote beetle biomass, diversity and abundance
  3. Das Konzept "Dialog" in der Werbung
  4. Time for the Environment: The Tutzing Time Ecology Project
  5. Institutional mirror versus substitute: How regulations affect explicit CSR motivation
  6. Cognitive aspects of noise sensitivity
  7. Probing turbulent superstructures in Rayleigh-Bénard convection by Lagrangian trajectory clusters
  8. Updating company law
  9. A Dual Kalman Filter to Identify Parameters of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
  10. Productivity and the product scope of multi-product firms:
  11. Applying the ecosystem services framework to pasture-based livestock farming systems in Europe
  12. Monitoring networking between higher education institutions and regional actors
  13. Gender in Trouble
  14. Accounting for Eco-Efficiency
  15. Trust Centrality in Online Social Networks
  16. A world of abundance
  17. The effects of hybrid order processing strategies on economic and logistic objectives
  18. Developing key competencies for sustainable development in higher education
  19. Effect of the gap width in AZ31 magnesium alloy joints obtained by friction stir welding
  20. Challenges in Education A Deweyan Assessment of AI Technologies in the Classroom
  21. Guided Internet-based vs. face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders
  22. Happy just because. A cross-cultural study on subjective wellbeing in three Indigenous societies
  23. Occurrence and Air-sea exchange of phthalates in the Arctic
  24. On anisotropic tensile mechanical behavior of Al-Cu-Li AA2198 alloy under different ageing conditions
  25. Influence of strontium, silicon and calcium additions on the properties of the AM50 alloy
  26. Working time dimensions and well-being
  27. Interventionen im Datenraum
  28. Special issue: Frameworks for Sustainability Management
  29. Scenes of Empowerment: Virtual Racial Diversity and Digital Divides
  30. Application of non-target analysis with LC-HRMS for the monitoring of raw and potable water
  31. Responsibility and Economics
  32. Whistle-Blowing heißt nicht: "verpfeifen"