Successful use of topsoil removal and soil amelioration to create heathland vegetation

We compared the effectiveness of topsoil removal and deep ploughing of an agriculturally improved grass field at creating suitable soil conditions for establishment of heathland vegetation. We then carried out a randomised replicated experiment involving combinations of topsoil removal, addition of heathland clippings and addition of Pteridium aquilinum litter and Pinus mulch to determine their effects on soil conditions and heathland establishment. The topsoil treatment had significantly lower concentrations of extractable P in its upper soil compared to the control plots. Both the topsoil removal and deep ploughing treatments had significantly higher pH in their upper soil compared to the control plots. Heathland vegetation established on all plots involving topsoil removal and addition of heathland clippings (with or without addition of P. aquilinum or Pinus mulch), despite soil pH in these plots being higher (5.9–6.8) than that generally recognised as being necessary for establishment of heathland vegetation.