Remove vegetation before seeding/planting

Overall effectiveness category Evidence not assessed
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Following conversion to arable agriculture or pasture, many grasslands are dominated by a relatively small number of plant species. Removal of this vegetation before sowing seeds of grassland species may aid the germination and colonization of grassland plants.

The studies summarised below removed vegetation using mechanical methods. For evidence relating to the removal of vegetation using herbicide, see ‘Apply herbicide before seeding/planting’ or for burning, see ‘Burn vegetation before seeding/planting’.

Study locations

Key messages

Two studies examined the effects of removing vegetation before seeding/planting on grassland vegetation. One study was in each of the UK and Belgium.

VEGETATION COMMUNITY (0 STUDIES)

VEGETATION ABUNDANCE (0 STUDIES)

VEGETATION STRUCTURE (0 STUDIES)

OTHER (2 STUDIES)

Germination/Emergence (2 studies): One of two replicated, controlled studies in the UK and Belgium found that removing vegetation before sowing seeds increased the germination rate of sown species. The other study found that removing vegetation, along with removing leaf litter, before sowing seeds increased the number of seedlings for one of three 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, randomized, controlled study in 1986 in a former arable field in Sussex, UK (Hutchings & Booth 1996) found that removing vegetation before sowing seeds increased the germination of four grassland plant species compared to sowing without vegetation removal. The average percentage of seeds that germinated for four grassland plant species was higher in plots where vegetation was removed and seeds sown (7.0–45.5%) than in plots where seeds were sown but vegetation was not removed (0.1–1.8%). In April 1986, all vegetation was removed (cut at ground level) from twenty 7 x 5 m plots, and seeds were sown of either Achillea millefolium, Pimpinella saxifraga, Plantago media or Scabiosa columbaria (five plots sown/species). In twenty other plots, seeds were sown but vegetation was not removed. Plots were monitored for seed germination every 1–2 weeks until September 1986.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Hutchings M.J. & Booth K.D. (1996) Studies of the feasibility of re-creating chalk grassland vegetation on ex-arable land. 2. Germination and early survivorship of seedlings under different management regimes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 33, 1182-1190.
A replicated, controlled study in 2006–2007 in five grassland restoration sites in Belgium (Piqueray et al. 2013) found that removing vegetation, along with removing leaf litter, before sowing forb seeds increased the number of seedlings for one of three sown species compared to sowing alone. For one sown species, pasqueflower Pulsatilla vulgaris, the average number of seedlings was higher in plots where vegetation and litter were removed before sowing (3 seedlings/plot) than in plots where vegetation and litter were not removed before sowing (0.6 seedlings/plot). The two other sown species, mountain clover Trifolium montanum and prostrate speedwell Veronica prostrata, did not germinate in sown plots with or without vegetation and litter removal. In May–August 2007, at each of five sites, vegetation and litter were removed in four 1 x 1 m plots after which 25 seeds of Pulsatilla vulgaris, Trifolium montanum or Veronica prostrata were sown. In another four plots, seeds were sown but vegetation and litter were not removed. All sites were former forest stands that were clear cut 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

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Increase number of species in seed mix Action Link	Evidence not assessed	5	Synopsis Link
Sow seeds in prepared gaps within vegetation Action Link	Evidence not assessed	1	Synopsis Link
Mow before or after seeding/planting Action Link	Evidence not assessed	10	Synopsis Link