Effects of site preparation and harvesting on the restoration of four native edible plant species to an old field ecosystem

• Main Author: Law, Eugene Philip
• Language: EN
• Published: State University of New York Col. of Environmental Science & Forestry 2016
• Subjects: Ecology|Agriculture|Plant sciences
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10130753

<p> Highly disturbed landscapes such as idle or abandoned farm land are known to experience losses in native plant diversity. Loss of diversity negatively impacts the ecological functions and services provided by an ecosystem. The restoration of native species to the landscape could therefore reverse this damage. This study examines the effects of prescribed burning, tilling, and mowing as site preparation prior to planting and biomass harvesting on the establishment of four native, edible, culturally significant forbs (<i> Apios americana, Helianthus annuus, Helianthus tuberosus,</i> and <i> Oenothera biennis</i>) over the first two years after they have been introduced to an idle farm field. Species&rsquo; responses to site preparation treatments varied, possibly driven by the type of propagule from which they were grown. Harvesting of biomass prevented <i>H. annuus</i> from returning in the second year and significantly reduced abundance for the other three species.</p>