Secondary succession of the vegetation in the young shelterbelt [Turew area, Western Poland]

Plant succession (herb and tree species) in newly planted midfield shelterbelt (0.63 ha of area) was investigated during eight years. Changes of vegetation were found to be similar to the succession on abandoned fields. During first years simple plant communities, consisted by common and very common species, dominated by one species, like: Arthemisia absyntium and Chenopodium album, Conyza canadiensis or Apera spica-venti, substituted year by year. The number of species reached maximal value (48) three years after shelterbelt planting. Among all trees forming the shelterbelt the fastest growing were the species of early succession stages (having light seeds) like: poplar, birch, larch and pine. Those trees form the canopy layer already after four years of succession. That process increased the rate of succession to forest community. Maximum biomass of herb plants (347.84 g dry wt. m⁻²) was noted in fifth year of succession. Litter biomass increased during all study period. Corridor effect of shelterbelt for plants wasn’t evidenced. Introduction of the forest and clear-cutting species is relatively slow and proceeds from the forest adjacent to the shelterbelt.