Sow grassland forb species

Overall effectiveness category Evidence not assessed
Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Many former pastures are dominated by relatively few grass species. Sowing grassland forbs may help other grassland species colonise these sites as well as helping to increase plant diversity.

Study locations

Key messages

One study examined the effects of sowing grassland forb species on grassland vegetation. The study was in Belgium.

VEGETATION COMMUNITY (0 STUDIES)

VEGETATION ABUNDANCE (0 STUDIES)

VEGETATION STRUCTURE (0 STUDIES)

OTHER (1 STUDY)

Germination/Emergence (1 study): One replicated, controlled study in Belgium found that sowing seeds of grassland forb species did not increase the number of seedlings for three forb species.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled study in 2006–2007 in five grassland restoration sites in Belgium (Piqueray et al. 2013) found that sowing seeds of grassland forbs did not increase the number of seedlings for three forb species. The average number of pasqueflower Pulsatilla vulgaris seedlings did not differ significantly between plots where seeds were sown (0.6 seedlings/plot) and plots where seeds were not sown (0 seedlings/plot). Two other species, mountain clover Trifolium montanum and prostrate speedwell Veronica prostrata, did not germinate in either sown or unsown plots. In May–August 2007, at each of five sites, 25 seeds of pasqueflower, mountain clover or prostrate speedwell were sown in four 1 x 1 m plots, and in four plots no seeds were sown. All sites were former forest stands that were clearcut and restored to grassland 3–14 years before the study. In May 2008, the number of seedlings in each plot was counted.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Piqueray J., Saad L., Bizoux J.P. & Mahy G. (2013) Why some species cannot colonise restored habitats? The effects of seed and microsite availability. Journal for Nature Conservation, 21, 189-197.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Ockendon, N., Berthinussen, A, Smith, R.K. and Sutherland W.J. (2021) Grassland Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of selected interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Grassland Conservation

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