AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT ADDITION AND MOWING ON A DITCHED WETLAND PLANT COMMUNITY: RESULTS OF THE FIRST YEAR

The effects of nutrients and mowing on plant species composition were investigated at a wetland site in Pitt County, North Carolina. Nutrient levels were manipulated by fertilization, and disturbance was imposed by a fall mowing treatment in a two-factor crossed design. The effects of an existing hy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 2006-10, Vol.122 (3), p.106-117
Main Authors: GOODWILLIE, CAROL, FRANCH, WILLIAM R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ditches
Fertilizers
Forbs
Mowing
Plant communities
Plants
Soil water
Species
Species diversity
Wetlands
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Summary:The effects of nutrients and mowing on plant species composition were investigated at a wetland site in Pitt County, North Carolina. Nutrient levels were manipulated by fertilization, and disturbance was imposed by a fall mowing treatment in a two-factor crossed design. The effects of an existing hydrologic gradient, possibly caused by man-made drainage ditches, was also examined. Diversity was significantly higher in mowed than in unmowed plots. Species diversity was not affected by fertilizer but the interaction of the two main factors was significant, with fertilizer producing a substantial negative effect on diversity only in unmowed plots. The observed patterns suggested a role of competition in reducing diversity. The importance of wetland species was significantly increased by mowing and reduced by fertilization. Abundance of forb species was unaffected by mowing but increased with fertilizer. Diversity was significantly lower in drier plots near a roadside ditch. Trends of these initial data suggested that mowing and human-mediated nutrient enrichment can have important effects on plant community composition and diversity.
ISSN:2167-5872
2167-5880