been converted into abandonment on the one hand and intensification on the other.
Especially the mesotrophic mountain meadows near the jasseries, a unique feature
within the oligotrophic and extensive heathland landscape of the subalpine zone of
these mountain ranges, are showing a strong decline in floristic diversity. In this
respect, these meadows, syntaxonomically to be assigned to the alliance PolygonoTrisetion, are no exception, as can be concluded from the voluminous documentation with regard to this subject (e.g. Klapp 1965; Dierschke 1991; Daniëls et al.
1987).
3 Eternal Rye Cropping in the Northwest European
Lowlands
On the higher sandy soils in the northwest European lowlands, an age-old agricultural system was practiced for many centuries, the so-called Potstal system. An—
also literally—central position hereby was taken by elevated field complexes,
Fig. 3 Ground plan of a jasserie and its surrounding, at Garnier in the eastern part of the Monts du
Forez (Schaminée 1993, after Damon 1972)
412
J. H. J. Schaminée and N. M. van Rooijen
Especially the mesotrophic mountain meadows near the jasseries, a unique feature
within the oligotrophic and extensive heathland landscape of the subalpine zone of
these mountain ranges, are showing a strong decline in floristic diversity. In this
respect, these meadows, syntaxonomically to be assigned to the alliance PolygonoTrisetion, are no exception, as can be concluded from the voluminous documentation with regard to this subject (e.g. Klapp 1965; Dierschke 1991; Daniëls et al.
1987).
3 Eternal Rye Cropping in the Northwest European
Lowlands
On the higher sandy soils in the northwest European lowlands, an age-old agricultural system was practiced for many centuries, the so-called Potstal system. An—
also literally—central position hereby was taken by elevated field complexes,
Fig. 3 Ground plan of a jasserie and its surrounding, at Garnier in the eastern part of the Monts du
Forez (Schaminée 1993, after Damon 1972)
412
J. H. J. Schaminée and N. M. van Rooijen