Comparison of techniques to increase Calluna vulgaris cover on heathland invaded by grasses in Breckland, south east England

Application of cutting, turf-stripping and rotovating were tested as a mean s of promoting or restoring Calluna vulgaris cover in grass heath at Knetti shall in Breckland, East Anglia. At this site an area of former Calluna hea th is now occupied by a dense Deschampsia flexuosa sward. Turf stripping ap peared to be the best method of creating bare ground for Calluna establishm ent, but requires specialist machinery and generates a large amount of wast e turf. Rotovating created bare ground without producing waste and gave goo d establishment of Calluna. Cutting was not successful at promoting the est ablishment of Calluna within a dense grass award but may be of use in the m anagement of Calluna-grass mosaics resulting from initial application of tu rf stripping or rotovating. An analysis of the benefits and problems associ ated with each technique is presented and rotovating is suggested as the mo st cost-effective method for promoting Calluna cover where grasses have bec ome dominant. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.