Braunton Burrows: Mineral Nutrient Status of the Dune Soils

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Abstract
The availability to plants of mineral nutrients in different parts of the dune system of Braunton Bunow, N. Devon, was investigated to assess the ecological importance of the nutrient levels. Experiments on 3 types of soil (freshly blown sand, soil of dry dune pasture and of lichen-type pasture) were carried out under controlled nutrient supply in a greenhouse, the tomato being used as an indicator plant. It was shown that all the soils contained sufficient minor mineral nutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Mo) for unrestricted plant growth. N and P were, however, severely deficient and K limiting. The effects on growth and vegetational composition of turf transplants from the dunes of the addition of nutrients were studied. Under greenhouse conditions transplants supplied with the chief major nutrients grew 2-3 times as much as controls. Important changes in composition of the transplants were found; grasses became strongly dominant when N, P and K were added in adequate amounts. When only N was supplied, however, and P was limiting, Carex flacca dominated rather than Agrostis stolonifera in transplants from damp pasture. The sparse growth and open character of much of the vegetation of the Burrows seem attributable to the low levels of major nutrients.

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