MODELING VEGETATION SUCCESSION AFTER BRACKEN CONTROL

Bracken is a major weed problem in some areas of the British Isles, an d large areas are being controlled. However, little is known, except i n agricultural grasslands, about how the associated understorey vegeta tion develops after control. A process model to predict vegetation dev elopment after bracken control has been developed from existing models of bracken growth and of successional development in set-aside. Basic ally, species compete for that space not taken up by the bracken canop y. Litter hinders germination and also competes for space with the gro wing plants. The outcome of succession depends on the initial species composition, the seed bank, the type of control and the various attrib utes of the species present.