Author Contributions
Conceptualization, M.V.C., H.L., J.C., and B.W.; methodology, M.V.C., H.L., J.C., S.F., R.G., M.T., J.A., I.B., M.-L.B., M.K., M.B. (Magnus Bihlmeier), D.C., A.B., F.O.-W., F.E., S.M., M.B. (Meike Boob), and B.W.; validation, M.V.C. and B.W.; formal analysis, M.V.C., J.C., M.B. (Meike Boob) and B.W.; investigation, M.V.C., H.L., J.C., S.F., R.G., M.T., J.A., I.B., M.-L.B., M.K., M.B. (Magnus Bihlmeier), D.C., A.B., F.O.-W., F.E., S.M., M.B. (Meike Boob), and B.W.; resources, M.V.C., H.L., J.C., S.F., R.G., M.T., J.A., I.B., M.-L.B., M.K., M.B. (Magnus Bihlmeier), D.C., A.B., F.O.-W., F.E., S.M., M.B. (Meike Boob), and B.W.; data curation, M.V.C.; writing—original draft preparation, M.V.C., J.C., M.B. (Meike Boob) and B.W.; writing—review and editing, M.V.C. and B.W.; visualization, M.V.C., M.B. (Meike Boob), J.C., H.L. and B.W.; supervision, M.V.C., H.L. and B.W.; project administration, M.V.C., H.L. and B.W.; funding acquisition, M.V.C., H.L. and B.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Figure 1.
Location of the stone quarry (a), and arrangement of the demonstration plots V1–V3 at the stone quarry (b).
Figure 1.
Location of the stone quarry (a), and arrangement of the demonstration plots V1–V3 at the stone quarry (b).
Figure 2.
Impressions from the planting event in December 2019. The planting holes were dug (a) and irrigated (b) before the seedlings (which were delivered as usual without soil from the nursery) were positioned in the holes and covered with loosened soil (c).
Figure 2.
Impressions from the planting event in December 2019. The planting holes were dug (a) and irrigated (b) before the seedlings (which were delivered as usual without soil from the nursery) were positioned in the holes and covered with loosened soil (c).
Figure 3.
Installation of a solar-powered water pump at plot V2 at the quarry in Ehningen, Southwest Germany during lock-down in April 2020.
Figure 3.
Installation of a solar-powered water pump at plot V2 at the quarry in Ehningen, Southwest Germany during lock-down in April 2020.
Figure 4.
Impressions of the grassland communities on demonstration plots V1 (a) and V2 (b), 18 July 2020.
Figure 4.
Impressions of the grassland communities on demonstration plots V1 (a) and V2 (b), 18 July 2020.
Figure 5.
General status of the trees (planted in December 2019) within the two rows of the demonstration plots V1 and V2 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 5.
General status of the trees (planted in December 2019) within the two rows of the demonstration plots V1 and V2 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 6.
Well-established blackthorn plantlet within demonstration plot V1 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 6.
Well-established blackthorn plantlet within demonstration plot V1 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 7.
Preparations for the installation of the electric fence at site V2 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 7.
Preparations for the installation of the electric fence at site V2 on 19 May 2020.
Figure 8.
View of the demonstration plot V2 with electric fence. Sheep were grazing outside of the plot a few days before this photograph was taken (18 July 2020).
Figure 8.
View of the demonstration plot V2 with electric fence. Sheep were grazing outside of the plot a few days before this photograph was taken (18 July 2020).
Figure 9.
Location of plot V3 (a) and impressions of willow plantlets on V3 (b,c). The stone gutter marks the middle of the area. Willows were planted crescent-shaped, indicated by the green vegetation left over from the last mowing process. The photographs were taken on 18 July 2020.
Figure 9.
Location of plot V3 (a) and impressions of willow plantlets on V3 (b,c). The stone gutter marks the middle of the area. Willows were planted crescent-shaped, indicated by the green vegetation left over from the last mowing process. The photographs were taken on 18 July 2020.
Table 1.
Overview of climatical conditions in the region of the stone quarry over the past eight years (data taken from
www.wetter-bw.de).
Table 1.
Overview of climatical conditions in the region of the stone quarry over the past eight years (data taken from
www.wetter-bw.de).
Year | Average Annual Temperature (°C) | Annual Precipitation (mm) | Climatical Water Balance (mm) | Annual Global Radiation (kWh m−2) | Frost Days (d) | Ice Days (d) |
---|
2012 | 9.3 | 726.7 | 201.4 | 928.7 | 76 | 20 |
2013 | 8.8 | 922.9 | 358.2 | 817.3 | 93 | 32 |
2014 | 10.4 | 763.3 | 173.5 | 861.3 | 39 | 2 |
2015 | 10.1 | 544.9 | 39.2 | 747.3 | 81 | 7 |
2016 | 9.1 | 646.5 | −11.2 | 1078.3 | 88 | 8 |
2017 | 9.2 | 653.9 | −51.1 | 1147.6 | 90 | 20 |
2018 | 10.2 | 525.9 | −264.3 | 1234.8 | 81 | 19 |
2019 | 9.5 | 591.0 | −131.4 | 1216.1 | 90 | 12 |
Average | 9.6 | 671.9 | 39.3 | 1003.9 | 80 | 15 |
Table 2.
Overview of the tree species available for planting in autumn 2019, which have been ordered by the company Baresel (Ehningen, Germany) within the framework of the renaturation. The references used for selecting suitable tree species for this project are also listed.
Table 2.
Overview of the tree species available for planting in autumn 2019, which have been ordered by the company Baresel (Ehningen, Germany) within the framework of the renaturation. The references used for selecting suitable tree species for this project are also listed.
Trivial Name | Botanical Name | Height of the Young Plant (cm) | References |
---|
Sessile oak | Quercus petraea (MATTUSCHKA) LIEBL. | >80 | [17,18] |
European hornbeam a | Capinus betulus L. | 80–120 | [19,20] |
Wild cherry a | Prunus avium L. | 120–150 | [21,22,23] |
Sweet chestnut a | Castanea sativa Mill. | 50–80 | [24] |
Common whitebeam a | Sorbus aria (L.) CRANTZ | 50–80 | [25,26,27,28] |
Wild Service Tree a | Sorbus torminalis (L.) CRANTZ | 30–50 | [29,30,31,32] |
Wild apple a | Malus sylvestris MILL. (1768) | 80–120 | [33,34,35,36] |
European pear a | Pyrus communis L. | 80–120 | [37] |
Field maple a | Acer campestre L. | 30–50 | [38] |
Common dogwood a | Cornus sanguinea L. | 40–70 | [39] |
Midland hawthorn | Crataegus laevigata (POIR) DC. | 50–80 | [40] |
Wayfarer a | Viburnum lantana L. | 40–70 | [41] |
Red honeysuckle | Lonicera xylosteum L. | 50–80 | [42] |
Wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare L. | 40–70 | [43] |
Dog Rose | Rosa canina L. | 50–80 | [44] |
Buckthorn | Rhamnus catharticus L. | 50–80 | [45] |
Blackthorn a | Prunus spinosa L. | 50–80 | [46] |
Hazel a | Coryllus avelana L. | 50–80 | [47] |
Table 3.
Schematic overview of the arrangement of tree species within areas V1 and V2.
Table 3.
Schematic overview of the arrangement of tree species within areas V1 and V2.
Row 1 | Row 2 |
---|
Walnut (Juglans regia L.) | Quince (Cydonia oblonga MILL.) |
Common dogwood | Willow (Salix L.) |
European hornbeam | Hazel |
Wild Service Tree | Sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) |
Sweet chestnut | Wild apple |
European hornbeam | Blackthorn |
Field maple | European pear |
European pear | Wayfarer |
Wild Service Tree | Wild apple |
Wild cherry | Common whitebeam |
Wayfarer | Common dogwood |
Table 4.
Cover of plant species (%) within the sample areas (4 m2) of the grassland communities of plot V1 and V2 on 18 July 2020.
Table 4.
Cover of plant species (%) within the sample areas (4 m2) of the grassland communities of plot V1 and V2 on 18 July 2020.
| Plot V1 | Plot V2 |
---|
Grasses | 15 | 15 |
Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. | 0 | 0.2 |
Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P.Beauv. ex J.Presl & C.Presl | 8 | 2 |
Dactylis glomerata L. | 2 | 2 |
Elymus repens (L.) Gould | 0 | 5 |
Festuca pratensis Huds. | 0 | 1 |
Lolium perenne L. | 2 | 5 |
Poa annua L. | 0.5 | 0 |
Poa angustifolia L. | 2 | 0 |
Poa trivialis L. | 0.5 | 0 |
Legumes | 106 | 63 |
Lotus corniculatus L. | 100 | 0 |
Medicago lupulina L. | 0.2 | 0 |
Medicago × varia Martyn | 2 | 60 |
Trifolium pratense L. | 1 | 1 |
Trifolium repens L. | 3 | 2 |
Vicia sepium L. | 0 | 0.2 |
Forbs | 8 | 55 |
Achillea millefolium L. | 0 | 0.2 |
Daucus carota L. | 0.2 | 0 |
Galium mollugo L. | 0.2 | 0 |
Hieracium L. | 0 | 0.2 |
Hypochaeris radicata L. | 0.2 | 0 |
Plantago lanceolata L. | 0 | 25 |
Potentilla anserina (L.) Rydb. | 0 | 0.2 |
Potentilla reptans | 0 | 25 |
Rosa spec. | 0.2 | 0 |
Rumex obtusifolius | 1 | 0.2 |
Taraxacum Sect. Ruderalia Kirschner, H.Øllg. & Štěpánek | 6 | 4 |
Total number of species (4 m−2) | 17 | 17 |
Table 5.
Overview of topsoil (0–30 cm depth) analyses on demonstration plots V1 and V2. Samples were taken on 18 March 2020.
Table 5.
Overview of topsoil (0–30 cm depth) analyses on demonstration plots V1 and V2. Samples were taken on 18 March 2020.
| Clay | Sand | Silt | Total Carbon | Soil Type | Stones | Earth | Organic Residues |
---|
Weight-% of Dry Matter a | Weight-% of Total Dry Matter | Volume-% of Fresh Matter |
---|
V1 | 20.5 | 32.2 | 47.2 | 9.6 | Loam | 56.7 | 42.9 | 0.4 |
V2 | 31.4 | 14.9 | 53.7 | 3.1 | Silty clay loam | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. |
Table 6.
Detailed overview of preliminary status of the trees per plot (V1, V2) and row (good = in healthy condition, pending = condition currently unclear, dead = no signs of vitality to be seen, not planted yet = in November 2019, there were no or not enough tree seedlings available).
Table 6.
Detailed overview of preliminary status of the trees per plot (V1, V2) and row (good = in healthy condition, pending = condition currently unclear, dead = no signs of vitality to be seen, not planted yet = in November 2019, there were no or not enough tree seedlings available).
Tree Species | Plot V1 | Plot V2 |
---|
Row 1 | | |
Walnut | Not planted yet | Not planted yet |
Common dogwood | Good | Good |
European hornbeam | Dead | Good |
Wild Service Tree | Good | Not planted yet |
Sweet chestnut | Not planted yet | Not planted yet |
European hornbeam | Not planted yet | Good |
Field maple | Good | Good |
European pear | Not planted yet | Good |
Wild Service Tree | Pending | Dead |
Wild cherry | Good | Good |
Wayfarer | Good | Good |
Row 2 | | |
Quince | Not planted yet | Not planted yet |
Willow | Good | Good |
Hazel | Good | Good |
Sea-buckthorn | Not planted yet | Not planted yet |
Wild apple | Good | Good |
Blackthorn | Good | Good |
European pear | Not planted yet | Pending |
Wayfarer | Good | Good |
Wild apple | Good | Dead |
Common whitebeam | Dead | Dead |
Common dogwood | Good | Pending |