Techniques for reducing soil fertility for nature conservation purposes: A review in relation to research at Roper's Heath, Suffolk, England

Abstract From 1954–1979 Roper's Heath in Suffolk was farmed with heavy inputs of fertiliser. In 1979, it was purchased as a nature reserve, and it is hoped to restore a heathland vegetation. One of the main problems for such restoration is that caused by high soil fertility. In order to reduce this fertility, cereal crops were harvested between 1980 and 1982. This paper investigates the effectiveness of this treatment by assessing (1) the amount of nutrients removed, and (2) the effect on soil fertility using bioassay techniques. In addition, various alternative techniques for helping to reduce soil fertility, e.g. straw/stubble burning, topsoil stripping, specific fertiliser additions to increase crop yield and hence increase the removal of other nutrients with the crop, and grazing, are reviewed and discussed.

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