Identification

Title

Vegetation data from experimental trials to investigate the control of Brachypodium pinnatum at Martin Down National Nature Reserve, UK, 2019-2022

Abstract

[This dataset is embargoed until September 1, 2024]. Vegetation data from field surveys undertaken at two experimental trials at Martin Down NNR, to investigate the potential for reducing dense Brachypodium pinnatum cover (experiment 1) and preventing further expansion of sparse cover (experiment 2). Experiment 1 explores the use of herbicide and reseeding, whilst experiment 2 examines cutting and grazing in the spring, autumn and both seasons. Percentage cover of all vascular plant species were recorded in 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats in each treatment replicate for both experiments. Surveys were undertaken in 2019 as a baseline before the experiments commenced, and post treatment in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/f15e64c0-db65-40ec-8b6d-50573f5f6694

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/f15e64c0-db65-40ec-8b6d-50573f5f6694

codeSpace

doi:

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Land Cover

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Wikidata

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2012-10-29

Keyword set

keyword value

Tor-grass

grazing

herbicide

cutting

reseeding

vascular plants

calcareous grassland

National Nature Reserve

Hampshire

Dorset

Wiltshire

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-1.959

East bounding longitude

-1.902

North bounding latitude

50.992

South bounding latitude

50.958

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2019-01-01

End position

2022-12-31

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2023-05-30

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Three experimental blocks were established over dense patches of B. pinnatum for the herbicide spraying experiment (experiment 1). Each block consisted of four plots, each measuring 8 m x 5 m. Four treatments were randomly applied within each block: 1) spray and reseed, 2) spray and no reseed, 3) spray twice and reseed and 4) spray twice and no reseeding. All plots were first sprayed with glyphosate in September 2019, followed by a cut and removal of dead material in April 2020. For plots which required a second spray, this took place in June 2020, followed by another cut and removal in September 2020. Seeding on the relevant treatments was also carried out in September 2020, using seeds that were hand-collected throughout the season at Martin Down. For more detailed information on the seeding process, please see supporting document. One large plot was established for the cut and graze experiment (experiment 2) over sparser cover of B. pinnatum, consisting of nine plots each measuring 20 m x 18 m. Three replicates of the three treatments were applied: autumn cut and graze (treatment 5), spring cut and graze (treatment 6), and both spring and autumn cut and graze (treatment 7). Vegetation recording was carried out in late August/early September of 2019 (before all treatments were applied to provide a baseline), and post treatment in 2020, 2021 and 2022. For the spraying experiment, vegetation surveys were conducted within each plot by placing five 50 cm × 50 cm quadrats at approximately 1 m intervals (i.e. vertices of a “W”-shaped transect through the plot). Quadrats avoided the outermost 50 cm of each plot, where there was an increased potential for spray drift from adjacent areas. Within each quadrat, the percentage cover of B. pinnatum, all other vascular plants and bare ground were recorded. A total of seven quadrats in each plot were recorded for the cut and graze experiment, since they were larger and the cover of B. pinnatum was more variable. Five quadrats in a diamond formation in the centre (5 m apart) were recorded, as well as two quadrats on the edge of each plot (avoiding the outermost 2 m). Data were collected by experienced field ecologists, the same ecologists carried out all surveys. Paper data sheets were digitised into Excel and were checked for any anomalies.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

explanation

Data format

name of format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

If you reuse this data, you should cite: Ridding, L.E., Redhead, J.W., Upcott, E.V., Hulmes, L., Hulmes, S., Mitschunas, N., Howell, K., Christelow, J., Wickenden, A.R., Fussell, M., Plunkett, J., Pywell, R.F. (2023). Vegetation data from experimental trials to investigate the control of Brachypodium pinnatum at Martin Down National Nature Reserve, UK, 2019-2022. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre https://doi.org/10.5285/f15e64c0-db65-40ec-8b6d-50573f5f6694

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Identification

Title

Abstract

Resource type

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

codeSpace

Dataset language

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

effective date

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

effective date

Keyword set

keyword value

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

effective date

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

effective date

degree

explanation

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

email address

responsible party role

Responsible party

organisation name

email address

responsible party role

Responsible party

organisation name

email address

responsible party role

Responsible party

organisation name

email address