Near-natural methods promote restoration of species-rich grassland vegetation - revisiting a road verge trial after 9 years

Published source details Auestad I., Rydgren K. & Austad I. (2016) Near-natural methods promote restoration of species-rich grassland vegetation - revisiting a road verge trial after 9 years. Restoration Ecology, 24, 381-389.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Sow native grass and forbs Action Link

Sow native grass and forbs

A replicated, randomized, controlled, paired study in 2004–2012 on a road verge in Borgund, Norway (Auestad et al. 2016) found that sowing native grass and forb seeds initially did not alter plant species richness, but after eight years there was an increase in species richness. After one year, plant species richness in plots where seeds had been sown did not differ significantly from that found in plots where no seeds were sown (seeded: 15 species/plot, unseeded: 13 species/plot). However, after eight years, species richness was higher in seeded plots (21 species/plot) than in unseeded plots (16 species/plot). In September 2004, in each of five blocks, seeds of 11 grass and forb species were sown at a density of 1,900 seeds/m² in three 0.5 x 0.5 plots, while in one plot/block seeds were not sown. All plots were paired. Seeds were harvested from donor sites (3–16 km away) in late summer/early autumn 2004. The site was mown in July/August 2007–2010. Vegetation cover was recorded in each plot in July–August 2005–2007 and 2012.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)