Practical workshop “Plants as signposts: About indicator plants and what they tell us about the soil”
Plants are important indicators in our agriculture. Indicator plants give us a picture of existing conditions in nature. But which indicator plants tell us what?
Indicator plants – clever nature
Plants that tell us something about the nature of the soil in which they grow are called indicator plants. These plants usually have specific requirements for the conditions in which they grow. For example, indicator plants can be an indicator of too much or too little nitrogen, dry or moist soil, nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich soil, compacted or loose soil. In areas that meet these conditions, indicator plants spread quickly, while other plants thrive much less well there.
The nature-conscious farmer knows: In agriculture, it is important to understand soil properties in order to produce the best possible feed for cows. The presence or absence of indicator plants, as well as changes in their growth, provide important information about soil conditions and the farming methods used. It is important to note, however, that indicator plants do not replace soil analyses, but merely complement them as an additional perspective.
Examples of indicator plants
For example, if a meadow is home to a lot of dandelions, speedwell, daisies, cleavers, or white clover, the farmer can assume that the soil contains a lot of nitrogen. This nutrient is essential for plant growth—but an excess can be problematic.
If rattlebox, chamomile and wild carrots predominate in a meadow, this is more likely to indicate a nitrogen-poor soil.
Indicator plants such as meadowsweet, meadowfoam, buttercup, and greater burnet indicate rather wet soils. On the other hand, dyer's chamomile, sickle carrot, and cranesbill signal dry soils.
WOERLE Farmers as active living space designers
As part of the "We Build for Diversity" project, funded by the federal government, the states, and the EU, with ÖKL as project sponsor and the WOERLE cheese dairy as project partner, WOERLE farmers enjoyed an exciting day in spring 2024 focused on indicator plants in grassland. Soil expert Dr. Andreas Bohner explained the most important indicator plant species to the participants and how they can be used as a tool for sustainable grassland management. Many thanks to the speakers for this enlightening tour of discovery through grassland and the truly informative training. We are already looking forward to the next practical workshops!
Did you know…
- that grassland farming is important for the creation and maintenance of a high level of plant biodiversity in the cultural landscape?
- that different habitats arise due to different forms of management, intensities of use or cows on the pasture?
- that the more different habitats there are in the cultural landscape, the greater the plant diversity?
- that for every plant species there are about ten insect species that benefit from it?
