Meadow Plant Communities Research Articles

Feuchtwiesen des Landschaftsschutzgebietes Jizerské hory. I.

In the protected landscape region of Jizerske hory mountains and the surrounding region, wet meadow plant communities were studied. A close relationship exists between the distribution of the analyzed communities and environmental properties. Apart from the differences expressed in the reconstruction mapping units, various environmental variables were taken into consideration: height above sea levels, geological substratum, climatic regime, inclination, exposition, soil moisture, humus content and quality, content of H+ and Al3+ ions, and soil and groud water mineral richness. The first part is devoted to the analysis of the following associations:Crepido-Juncetum acutiflori, Junco filiformi-Polygonetum, Scrirpetum silvatici, andPolygono-Trollietum altissimi.

Litter production and disappearance in some alluvial meadows (Preliminary results)

Data on standing crop of litter, litter production and disappearance in three alluvial meadow plant communities are presented. The influence of ecological conditions and quality of litter on litter decomposition rate, and the chemical changes of litter during decomposition are described.

Underground dry weight in the grassland communities ofArrhenatheretum elatioris alopecuretosum pratensis R. Tx. 1937 andMesobrometum erecti stipetosum Vicherek 1960

The meadow plant communities,Arrhenatheretum elatioris alopecuretosum pratensis R. Tx. 1937 andMesobrometum erecti stipetosumVicherek 1960, were chosen for investigations of the underground plant parts. Apparent differences in underground dry weight and its seasonal changes in both the communities were observed. Differences in the soil environment in different periods of the year are reflected in the character of time changes in underground dry weight. The soil environment affects not only the total underground biomass and their changes in time, but also the activity of soil microflora and, consequently, the decomposition rate of dead underground plant parts.