| Popis: |
An experimental field trial was performed on Ilkley Moor, an upland moor in northern England, to assess the effectiveness of two cutting treatments as alternatives to traditional moorland burning practice. Plots where the above-ground vegetation was broken off by a mechanical flail developed a new vegetation cover with as much Calluna vulgaris as did burned plots. However, there was a time-lag of about 1 year in achieving any particular cover value compared to the regrowth following burning. Plots where the cutting treatment left a bare peat surface did not revegetate as successfully. It is suggested that, where management by burning is less practicable, flailing would be a viable alternative technique and would produce a vegetation stand that would be acceptable for sheep and grouse grazing as well as amenity land use. |
