Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

The role of herbaceous woodland perennial diversity for improving nutrient uptake of riparian areas

Project ID: E2006-03

Abstract

Investigation of disturbed and intact woodlands herbaceous understories provided information on species present, biomass production and nutrient capture in preserved and secondary forests.

Key Question: What characteristics of woodland understory plant communities are functionally important in agricultural landscapes?

Findings: The number, frequency, and abundance of different understory herbaceous species, especially spring-growing species, are greater in preserved forests than in secondary or disturbed forests, and are important for maintaining biodiversity and contributing to nutrient capture. Certain spring-growing species produce large amounts of biomass and substantially increase nutrient capture in the understory. Including these species in riparian woodland restoration should lead to increased effectiveness for nutrient capture.

Lead investigator: Jan R. Thompson, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management, et al

Year of grant completion: 2009

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Topics: Agroforestry, Soils and agronomy, Water quality, quantity and management