Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas

In some areas of Polish Carpathians high nature value grasslands are managed only because of agri-environmental subsidies or as an active preservation measures in protected areas. Due to the abandonment of livestock farming the problem is the dispose of collected biomass. In the Pieniny National Par...

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Main Author: Jan Zarzycki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Publishing House of the University of Agriculture in Krakow 2018-12-01
Series:Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.formatiocircumiectus.actapol.net/pub/17_4_195.pdf
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author Jan Zarzycki
author_facet Jan Zarzycki
author_sort Jan Zarzycki
collection DOAJ
description In some areas of Polish Carpathians high nature value grasslands are managed only because of agri-environmental subsidies or as an active preservation measures in protected areas. Due to the abandonment of livestock farming the problem is the dispose of collected biomass. In the Pieniny National Park in some cases the hay harvested and collected in pile is burned. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the burning of a large amount of hay on vegetation and assess the possibility of using this measure in preservation of species rich plant communities. In 1997 piles of hay were burned on 17 plots. On the burned plots plant and soil analysis were determined in years 1998–2001 and repeated in 2014. During the first four years there was a significant increase in the content of available phosphorus, potassium and soil pH. As a result, at the beginning, increased growth of legumes, was observed. Next, the grass species began to appear in greater number. After 17 years soil parameters of burnt plots were similar to that of surrounding areas and no considerable differences in plant composition was observed. However, some of burnt plots were still distinguishable on the meadow. Under certain conditions, the burning of hay can be used in management of grassland.
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spelling doaj.art-230910fff2e44bfcb91d8c3ce06314e22022-12-21T18:59:26ZengPublishing House of the University of Agriculture in KrakowActa Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus1644-07652018-12-0117419520410.15576/ASP.FC/2018.17.4.195Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areasJan ZarzyckiIn some areas of Polish Carpathians high nature value grasslands are managed only because of agri-environmental subsidies or as an active preservation measures in protected areas. Due to the abandonment of livestock farming the problem is the dispose of collected biomass. In the Pieniny National Park in some cases the hay harvested and collected in pile is burned. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the burning of a large amount of hay on vegetation and assess the possibility of using this measure in preservation of species rich plant communities. In 1997 piles of hay were burned on 17 plots. On the burned plots plant and soil analysis were determined in years 1998–2001 and repeated in 2014. During the first four years there was a significant increase in the content of available phosphorus, potassium and soil pH. As a result, at the beginning, increased growth of legumes, was observed. Next, the grass species began to appear in greater number. After 17 years soil parameters of burnt plots were similar to that of surrounding areas and no considerable differences in plant composition was observed. However, some of burnt plots were still distinguishable on the meadow. Under certain conditions, the burning of hay can be used in management of grassland.http://www.formatiocircumiectus.actapol.net/pub/17_4_195.pdffire ecologygrassland managementnature conservation
spellingShingle Jan Zarzycki
Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus
fire ecology
grassland management
nature conservation
title Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
title_full Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
title_fullStr Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
title_full_unstemmed Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
title_short Burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
title_sort burning hay as a tool in conservation of mountain grassland vegetation in protected areas
topic fire ecology
grassland management
nature conservation
url http://www.formatiocircumiectus.actapol.net/pub/17_4_195.pdf
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