Vegetation succession during the establishment of an energy forest on a sphagnum peat bog in east‐central Sweden

The field- and bottom-layer vegetation changed substantially when Salix spp. and Alnus incana were planted, fertilized and irrigated on a Sphagnum peat bog. Of the original peat-bog species, only Eriophorum vaginatum was favoured. Only 20 of the original 39 peat-bog species remained after five years. New species like Chamaenerion angustifolium, Epilobium adenocaulon and E. palustre invaded the bog and became dominant. 20 new species were recorded in the field layer. The change was very rapid and after five years no stabilization could be observed. There was a correlation between the nutritional status of the peat and the composition of vegetation and also between the amount of fertilizers given and the composition of vegetation.