Assesment of the Impact of Habitat Conditions and Land Use on the Floristic Diversity of Selected Rush Communities

This study concerned the assessment of the effect of various habitat conditions and land use on the habitat diversity of rush communities classified as Phragmitetea. The investigations were conducted in the years 2015-2019 in an area particularly interesting in terms of its nature value and abundant in localities of diverse plant communities, located in ecological areas of permanent grassland in the river valleys of the Noteć Leniwa and the Noteć Bystra, as well as the interlevee floodplain of the Warta in the area of Rakowo. The study area covered 228 ha. Soil moisture content resulting from the habitat mosaic and intensity of land use had a significant effect on the formation of rush communities, their richness and floristic diversity as well as nature and agricultural value. Most communities of nature value were characterised by a mediocre economic value and low fodder value (FVS ranging from 1.1 to 6.9), while some were barren lands. The calculated floristic diversity index (H’) varied and ranged from 1.9 to 3.5, while the harvested dry matter yields ranged from 2.7 to 16.6 t.ha⁻¹.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of habitat conditions and land use on the formation and diversity of rush communities in the Noteć and the Warta river valleys.

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