Creating novel urban grasslands by reintroducing native species in wasteland vegetation
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Published source details
Fischer L.K., von der Lippe M., Rillig M.C. & Kowarik I. (2013) Creating novel urban grasslands by reintroducing native species in wasteland vegetation. Biological Conservation, 159, 119-126.
Published source details Fischer L.K., von der Lippe M., Rillig M.C. & Kowarik I. (2013) Creating novel urban grasslands by reintroducing native species in wasteland vegetation. Biological Conservation, 159, 119-126.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Inoculate soil with mycorrhiza before seeding/planting Action Link |
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Sow native grass and forbs Action Link |
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Inoculate soil with mycorrhiza before seeding/planting
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2008–2010 in 11 urban wasteland sites in Hellersdorf, Germany (Fischer et al. 2013) found that inoculating soil with mycorrhizal fungi and sowing seeds of grassland species did not alter overall plant species richness or the proportion of target species. In the three years after sowing, average plant species richness did not differ significantly between plots where seeds were sown in soil inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (47–52 species) and plots where seeds were sown in untreated soil (43–50 species). The percentage of vegetation consisting of target species of local conservation priority also did not differ significantly (inoculated plots: 35–50%; untreated plots: 29–46%). In autumn 2008, one 4 x 4 m plot at each of 11 sites was sown with seeds and the soil inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (0.75 l/plot). One plot at each site was sown with seeds and the soil was left untreated. Plots were mown and tilled prior to sowing. Seed mixes contained 27 species from the study region. In spring, early and late summer in 2009–2010, a 3 x 3 m quadrat was placed in the centre of each plot and plant cover mapped.
(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
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Sow native grass and forbs
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2008–2010 in 11 urban wasteland sites in Hellersdorf, Germany (Fischer et al. 2013) found that sowing grass and forb seeds increased plant species richness and the number of local conservation priority species. Average plant species richness in plots where seeds had been sown (43–50 species/plot) was higher than in plots where no seeds were sown (28–31 species). The percentage of vegetation consisting of local priority grassland species was also higher in plots where seeds were sown (29–46%) than in plots where no seeds were sown (7–9%). In autumn 2008, at each of 11 sites, seeds were sown in one 4 x 4 m plot, while no seeds were sown in another paired plot. All plots were mown and tilled prior to sowing. Seed mixes contained 27 species from the study region. In spring, early and late summer 2009–2010, a 3 x 3 quadrat was placed in the centre of each plot and vegetation cover mapped.
(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
