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Restoration of Species-Rich Nardus Grasslands Via Phosphorus-Mining

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Restoration of species-rich Nardus grasslands via phosphorus-mining Stephanie Schelfhout ir. Stephanie SCHELFHOUT Restoration of species-rich Nardus grasslands via phosphorus-mining Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor (PhD) in Applied Biological Sciences: Forest and Nature Management February 2019 Dutch translation of the title: Herstel van soortenrijke heischrale graslanden via uitmijnen Illustration on the cover: Succisa pratensis – Blauwe knoop (front); Mowing management in a post-fertilization field in Vrieselhof, Ranst, Belgium (back) Citation of this thesis: Schelfhout S (2019) Restoration of species-rich Nardus grasslands via phosphorus-mining. Doctoral dissertation. Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. ISBN-number: 978-946357174-6 Promotors: Prof. Dr. ir. Jan MERTENS ForNaLab, Dpt. of Environment, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Dr. ir. An DE SCHRIJVER, ForNaLab, Dpt. of Environment, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Fac. Science and Technology, University College Ghent Prof. Dr. ir. Kris VERHEYEN ForNaLab, Dpt. of Environment, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Prof. Dr. ir. Geert HAESAERT Dpt. of Plants and Crops, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Board of Prof. Dr. ir. Jo DEWULF (Chairman) examiners: EnVOC - STEN, Dpt. of Green Chemistry and Technology, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Prof. Dr. ir. Lander BAETEN ForNaLab, Dpt. of Environment, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Dr. ir. Frank NEVENS Dpt. of Plants and Crops, Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Dr. Tobias CEULEMANS Unit Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity conservation, Dpt. of Biology, University of Leuven Prof. Dr. Rob MARRS Dpt. of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool Dean: Prof. Dr. ir. Marc VAN MEIRVENNE Fac. Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Rector: Prof. Dr. ir. Rik VAN DE WALLE Ghent University The author and the supervisors give the authorization to consult and to copy parts of this work for personal use only. Every other use is subject to the copyright laws. Permission to reproduce any material contained in this work should be obtained from the author. Photos by Stephanie Schelfhout unless indicated otherwise. CONTENTS DANKWOORD ........................................................................................................................................... i SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. iv SAMENVATTING ..................................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS ....................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 Ecological restoration and the role of phosphorus .............................................................. 1 1.1 The age of ecological restoration .................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Semi-natural grasslands: threatened hotspots of biodiversity ...................................................... 4 1.3 Land-use intensification: from oligotrophic to eutrophic ecosystems .......................................... 8 1.4 Restoration of oligotrophic grasslands ........................................................................................ 21 1.5 Aim, research questions and thesis outline ................................................................................. 27 CHAPTER 2 P-removal for restoration of Nardus grasslands on former agricultural land: cutting traditions ............................................................................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 3 Phytomining to re-establish phosphorus-poor soil conditions for nature restoration on former agricultural land ........................................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER 4 Phosphorus-mining for ecological restoration on former agricultural land ....................... 59 CHAPTER 5 Phosphorus mining efficiency declines with decreasing soil P concentration and varies across crop species ............................................................................................................................... 75 CHAPTER 6 Effects of bioavailable phosphorus and soil biota on typical Nardus grassland species in competition with fast-growing plant species ........................................................................................ 89 CHAPTER 7 General overview of results, decision tree for practitioners and future perspectives ..... 105 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 106 7.1 RQ1: Can traditional management by mowing restore Nardus grassland on former agricultural land? ................................................................................................................................................ 108 7.2 RQ2: Is it possible to phytomine phosphorus more efficiently? ............................................... 110 Box 2. Estimating the time to phytomine phosphorus along a soil phosphorus gradient ............... 111 7.3 RQ3: Do Nardus grassland species benefit from inoculation with soil biota? ........................... 117 7.4 Decision tree .............................................................................................................................. 118 Box 3. Screening fields for restoration of oligotrophic grasslands .................................................. 122 7.5 Implications for practice and policy ........................................................................................... 123 7.6 Knowledge gaps and future research opportunities ................................................................. 127 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ 129 CITED LITERATURE .............................................................................................................................. 169 AFFILIATIONS OF CO-AUTHORS ........................................................................................................... 185 CURRICULUM VITAE ............................................................................................................................ 186 The ideal scientist thinks like a poet and only later works like a bookkeeper E. O. Wilson in Letters to a young scientist (2013) DANKWOORD “Mag het iets meer zijn?” Dit onderzoek heeft iets langer mogen duren en gelukkig maar. Het speelt zich af op het spanningsveld tussen landbouw en natuur en deze complexiteit met al zijn stakeholders had ik niet op vier jaar tijd kunnen begrijpen (niet dat ik dit nu volledig begrijp maar toch een beetje). Dit onderzoek was een bijzondere uitdaging waar ik acht jaar lang erg graag aan werkte in het inspirerende Gontrode en het gezellige Schoonmeersen, samen met gepassioneerde promotoren en collega’s, samen met de mensen die midden in de praktijk staan, nl. de natuurbeheerders en landbouwers die openstaan voor nieuwigheden, en samen met al die studentjes die ik mocht ontmoeten. Bedankt, het was leerrijk! Zoals je in dit doctoraat zal zien op de making-of-actie-foto’s, kreeg ik erg veel hulp. Een woord van dank is hierbij op zijn plaats. Fenomenaal, dát is de krachtterm die past bij de coaching en ondersteuning die ik mocht genieten tijdens dit doctoraat. Promotoren-team, ik apprecieer jullie enorm voor jullie openheid, bereidheid om te luisteren, te helpen, te motiveren, op terrein te gaan en met mijn wilde gedachten overweg te kunnen. Jan, zonder jouw coaching was dit werk niet gelukt. Jij kan op een manier ronduit “trekto pnix” zeggen die helemaal niet zo erg klinkt omdat je tegelijk ook heldere oplossingen aanreikt die me helpen de echte essentie te ontdekken. Bedankt om me de ruimte en vrijheid te geven voor dit doctoraat maar ook in mijn andere dagelijkse taken. Het is een plezier om nog eens twee jaar je assistent te kunnen zijn. Toegegeven, ik vond het een beetje frustrerend dat je me het laatste jaar (bewust) buiten masterthesissen etc. hield maar ik zie ook in dat het cruciaal was om dit doctoraat te kunnen afronden. De komende twee jaar zal ik me opnieuw moeien ;-). An, samen op pierenjacht tijdens Expedition Lumbricus naar Denemarken was onvergetelijk en inspirerend. Zonder deze eerste stappen in de onderzoekswereld stond ik nooit waar ik nu ben, op het punt om een doctoraat af te ronden, stel je voor. Door jou werd het me duidelijk dat als ik maar genoeg gepassioneerd was door het onderwerp, dat het dan pas écht interessant zou worden. Bedankt om me te motiveren om voor die beursaanvragen te gaan, me te troosten bij ontgoochelingen en me opnieuw verse moed in te spreken. Ben ik – achteraf gezien - maar wat blij dat ik die IWT-beurs niet haalde en dat het dit assistentschap werd. Ik apprecieer je can-do mentaliteit en je immense goesting om bij te dragen aan onze Vlaamse natuur. Kris, ik voel me bevoorrecht om reeds zo lang met jou te mogen samenwerken. Al van toen ik een bachelorstudentje was in het derde jaar, droomde ik stiekem om aan “het LaBo” te werken. De lessen bosbeheer,
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