Nutrient versus seed bank depletion approaches to controlling exotic annuals in threatened Box Gum woodlands. (26th July 2015)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Nutrient versus seed bank depletion approaches to controlling exotic annuals in threatened Box Gum woodlands. (26th July 2015)
- Main Title:
- Nutrient versus seed bank depletion approaches to controlling exotic annuals in threatened Box Gum woodlands
- Authors:
- Cole, Ian Arthur
Prober, Suzanne
Lunt, Ian
Koen, Terry B. - Abstract:
- Abstract: Control of exotic annuals is often a priority when restoring degraded grasslands or shrublands. This study evaluated combinations of nutrient‐depleting (carbon addition) and seed bank‐depleting approaches for controlling exotic annuals, and compared the seed bank depletion technique of spring burning with the more easily applied technique of pulse grazing. Treatments were applied in two Box Gum woodlands over 4 years. Consistent with earlier studies, carbon addition dramatically reduced exotic annuals and available nutrients in all 3 years at both sites. Exotic annual grass abundance was significantly reduced in burnt plots following the first year and in grazed plots following the second year of application. Spring burning or grazing did not reduce available nutrients or exotic annual broadleaf abundance at either site. The effect of carbon addition on exotic annuals and available nutrients was so powerful that no additional benefit of the combination treatments was found, although at one site burning and grazing slightly reduced the effectiveness of carbon addition in suppressing broadleaf exotic annuals. We conclude that nutrient‐depleting approaches are most effective because they control both exotic annual grasses and broadleaf exotics annuals, but given their expense seed bank‐depleting approaches may be more practical where exotic annual grasses dominate. In particular, pulse grazing is readily applied across large areas, offering a relatively simple toolAbstract: Control of exotic annuals is often a priority when restoring degraded grasslands or shrublands. This study evaluated combinations of nutrient‐depleting (carbon addition) and seed bank‐depleting approaches for controlling exotic annuals, and compared the seed bank depletion technique of spring burning with the more easily applied technique of pulse grazing. Treatments were applied in two Box Gum woodlands over 4 years. Consistent with earlier studies, carbon addition dramatically reduced exotic annuals and available nutrients in all 3 years at both sites. Exotic annual grass abundance was significantly reduced in burnt plots following the first year and in grazed plots following the second year of application. Spring burning or grazing did not reduce available nutrients or exotic annual broadleaf abundance at either site. The effect of carbon addition on exotic annuals and available nutrients was so powerful that no additional benefit of the combination treatments was found, although at one site burning and grazing slightly reduced the effectiveness of carbon addition in suppressing broadleaf exotic annuals. We conclude that nutrient‐depleting approaches are most effective because they control both exotic annual grasses and broadleaf exotics annuals, but given their expense seed bank‐depleting approaches may be more practical where exotic annual grasses dominate. In particular, pulse grazing is readily applied across large areas, offering a relatively simple tool that if appropriately implemented could enhance outcomes of restoration investments in vegetation communities invaded by exotic annual grasses. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Austral ecology. Volume 41:Number 1(2016)
- Journal:
- Austral ecology
- Issue:
- Volume 41:Number 1(2016)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 41, Issue 1 (2015)
- Year:
- 2015
- Volume:
- 41
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2015-0041-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 40
- Page End:
- 52
- Publication Date:
- 2015-07-26
- Subjects:
- burning -- carbon addition -- exotic annuals -- grazing -- woodland
Ecology -- Southern Hemisphere -- Periodicals
Ecology -- Australia -- Periodicals
557 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/aec ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/aec.12293 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1442-9985
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 1793.105000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 2203.xml