Successional changes of phytodiversity on a short rotation coppice plantation in Oberschwaben, Germany

Abstract

To allow for information on successional changes in phytodiversity over time and space, as well as information on differences between clones and treatments, phytodiversity was monitored on a poplar short rotation coppice plantation in Oberschwaben, Southwest Germany, in four consecutive years. The investigated plantation was divided into two core areas, one planted with poplar clone Max4, the other with Monviso; each core area was divided into two blocks with alternating treatments: (i) irrigation and fertilization; (ii) irrigation; and (iii) no treatment. All vascular plant species of the ground vegetation were recorded in 72 permanent sampling plots of 25 m2 each during vegetation periods using the Braun-Blanquet scale. Results showed that total number of species increased in first 2 years and declined after harvest of the SRC-trees. Total vegetation cover decreased during the 4 years of study. Especially for the two clones there was an opposed trend: grass layer had a high cover on Monviso plots, but low cover on Max4 plots; herb layer the very reverse. However, there was no significant difference between the three treatments compared within each year. Perennial species were dominating over all years, as well as light-demanding species, but their proportion decreased steadily. Our results confirm the conclusion of previous studies which indicate that plant community succession takes place in ground vegetation of SRC and imply that species composition is age-dependent. The selection of clones for SRC can influence ground vegetation; some floristic changes for example caused by different treatments may be visible only when monitored over a longer period of time.

The Effects of Poplar Plantations on Vascular Plant Diversity in Riparian Landscapes

“…This may explain the previously observed lack of differences between young and mature stands in hardwood forests [64], as the young stands under study were around 20 years old and recovery of forest plant species may already have been occurring, which seems to be confirmed by the fact that species composition was quite similar regardless of stand age. On the contrary, in another study of short rotation coppice plantations of poplar [23], the authors found that species richness decreased from the second year onwards. This pattern may be explained by the planting distance of 2.5 mˆ0.5 m, which should lead to much earlier canopy closure than in the present study or the previously mentioned study [20], in which the planting distances ranged from 5 mˆ5 m to 7 mˆ7 m.…”

Dependence of Weed Composition on Cultivated Plant Species and Varieties in Energy-Tree and -Grass Plantations

“…Clapham and Slater [10] recorded 31 weed species within the miscanthus plantation, with Epilobium montanum, Ranunculus repens, and Rumex obtusifolius being the most frequently observed. Several studies [35][36][37], point to the fact that SRC species, as well as their varieties, influence the understory composition. We assume that this influence is due to different environmental conditions created by SRC crops.…”

Evaluation of Bioenergy Potential and Relative Impact of Microclimate Conditions for Sustainable Fuel Pellets Production and Carbon Sequestration of Short-Rotation Forestry (Populus × Canadensis Moench.) in Reclaimed Land, South Korea: Three-Year Monitoring

“…(halophyte) and other herbaceous plants grown in tidal flat are dominant in the reclaimed land in South Korea [94], but other dominant plants might be formed in the understory vegetation formed after afforestation of the short rotation coppices, because of the shade effect [13]. Birmele et al [95] reported that the neighboring ground vegetation on SRC had a dominant tendency in light-demanding plant species. However, their proposition can be deteriorated from 62 to 39%, steadily over time, whereas the proposition of semi-shade species shows an increase from 22 to 34% as SRC trees change canopy levels.…”

“…Monitoring the plant diversity in the area surrounding the SRC showed that the dominant species in the Saemangeum land reclamation area changed in their species composition over three years. Birmele et al [95] reported that high soil moisture and irrigated SRC plots might affect the high water ability of neighboring plants and impact species richness on successional changes in photodiversity of SRC, increasing the species number. In 2013, the dominant species in the SRC was identified to be S. viridis, but Sonchus brachyotus and C. epigeios also increased in 2014 (second rotation of the SRC).…”