Haterd, R.J.W. van de, B. van den Hengel & P.J. Keizer, 2009, Lange termijneffect van maaien in wegbermen, in: De Levende Natuur, 110, 2
- Author : Haterd, R.J.W. van de, B. van den Hengel & P.J. Keizer
- Year : 2009
- Title English : Long-term effects of cutting on roadside grasslands and forest edges
- Journal/Series : De Levende Natuur
- Volume Number (ANNUAL: Counting Volumes of the Year shown above) : 2
- Volume Number (CONSECUTIVE: Counting all Volumes of this Journal ever published) : 110
- Pages : 88-94
- Abstract in English : Roadside vegetation constitutes a significant amount of semi-natural grasslands in The Netherlands. Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch directorate-general for public works and water management) is responsible for the management of major roads and waterways. Management aims at maximizing natural values within boundaries set by traffic safety and road use. Research in nature reserves has shown that cutting with removal of cuttings leads to a lower biomass and a higher biodiversity. Rijkswaterstaat wanted to investigate the long-term effects of cutting with removal in roadsides verges and establish the optimal cutting frequency for different soil types and sun exposure. In a 23-year experiment five different cutting frequencies (2x/year, 1x/year in spring, 1x/year in autumn, 1x/2years and never) were tested in the sun and in the shade, on a sandy soil with a Thero-Airion vegetation and on a clay soil with an Arrhenatherion elatioris. Despite hay-making, biomass slightly increased in all plots except the yearly cut plots on clay. Biomass increased faster if cutting frequency was lower. A higher cutting frequency yielded significantly more species, rare species and flowers. In the shade however, the benefits of cutting are relatively low and it is questionable whether these outweigh the costs. The optimal cutting frequency on clay is two times per year, on nutrient poor sandy soil cutting only once in autumn is enough. Where roadside verges are wide enough, a development of a zone of shrubs and rough grassland near forest edges can be allowed. A comparison of such zones with reference plots where grassland management had continued showed that after 10 years a significant decrease of species numbers and of rare species had occurred (based on vascular plants). This trend was visible in shady and sunny plots, on sandy as well as clay soils. We therefore advise against this management practice on roadside verges where grassland values are high or potentially high.