Tag Archives: willows

1450-1466 I. Pučka, D. Lazdiņa and I. Bebre
Ground flora in plantations of three years old short rotation willow coppice
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Ground flora in plantations of three years old short rotation willow coppice

I. Pučka¹³, D. Lazdiņa² and I. Bebre²³

¹Daugavpils University, Parades str. 1, LV-5401 Daugavpils, Latvia
²Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, Rigas street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
³Latvia University of Agriculture, Liela street 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: irena.pucka@du.lv

Abstract:

Short rotation willow coppice plantations are widely used for biomass production over the world. However, their effect on local biodiversity has not been fully elucidated. Ground flora cover of willow plantations are functionally diverse and contains high richness of plant species. The vegetation structure depends on soil type, previous land use, management practices (for example herbicide and fertilizer use) and frequency of harvesting. Investigation of ground vegetation and soil analyze were conducted in seven willow SRC plantations in Central Latvia, Skrīveri municipality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of light availability, plantation age, and soil properties on ground vegetation species composition in three years old short rotation willow coppice. Plantations consist of various willow clones, planted in rows. Weed control was carried out during the first year of plantation establishment.

The qualitative and quantitative proportion of species, including species percentage cover and the mean Ellenberg indicator values were calculated. In total, 64 vascular plant species and two tree species were found in the willow coppice ground vegetation layer. Perennial plants dominate in ground vegetation (constitutes 81% of the identified species). For most species, percentage cover was 10–20% within each plot, but percentage cover of Achillea millefolium L., Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski and Agrostis gigantea Roth was more than 40% in some plots.

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