Regional seed mixtures for the re‐creation of species‐rich meadows in the White Carpathian Mountains: results of a 10‐yr experiment

Published source details Mitchley J., Jongepierova I. & Fajmon K. (2012) Regional seed mixtures for the re‐creation of species‐rich meadows in the White Carpathian Mountains: results of a 10‐yr experiment. Applied Vegetation Science, 15, 253-263.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Sow seeds in part of site Action Link
	Sow native grass and forbs Action Link

Sow seeds in part of site

A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 1999–2009 in semi-dry grassland in the Czech Republic (Mitchley et al. 2012) found that sowing seeds in strips within each site did not alter sown grass and herb cover or species richness compared to unsown areas. Cover of sown grass species (0–20% vs 0–9%) and herb species (0–8% vs 0–6%) did not differ significantly between areas where seeds were sown in strips and areas where no seeds were sown. The same pattern was true for grass species richness (seeded strips: 0–2.5 species/plot; unseeded: 0–1.9 species/plot) and herb species richness (seeded strips: 0–3.5 species/plot; unseeded: 0–3.5 species/plot). The plant community composition of areas sown with seeds in strips was also more similar to areas where no seeds were sown than that of ancient meadows. In eight 55 × 20 m plots, a 2.5-m central strip was sown with a seed mixture containing seven grass species and 20 herb species at a rate of 2 g/m², while four plots were not sown with seeds. In June in 2000–2004 and 2009, ten 1.5 x 1.5 m quadrats were placed in each plot and all species present and their cover recorded.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
Sow native grass and forbs

A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 1999–2009 in semi-dry grassland in the Czech Republic (Mitchley et al. 2012) found that sowing with grass and forb seeds increased sown forb and grass species richness and initially the cover of local forb and grass species, but over time forb species cover declined. After one year, species richness of sown forbs (7.9 vs 0 species/plot) and of sown grasses (3.9 vs 0 species/plot) was higher in areas where seeds were sown than in areas where no seeds were sown, and this remained true for both forbs (8.0 vs 3.5 species/plot) and grasses (4.1 vs 1.9 species/plot) after 10 years. The plant community composition of areas sown with seeds was also more similar to ancient hay meadows than that of areas where no seeds were sown. After one year, cover of sown forb species (17% vs 0%) and sown grass species (18% vs 0%) was higher in areas where local seeds were sown than where no seeds were sown. After 10 years, this pattern was still seen for sown grass species (52% vs 9%) but the cover of sown forb species in areas where seeds were sown was no longer significantly different from areas where no seeds were sown (8.7% vs 6.1%). Four 55 x 20 m plots were sown with a locally sourced seed mixture containing seven grass species and 20 forb species at a rate of 2 g/m², while four plots were not sown with seeds. In June 2000–2004 and 2009, ten 1.5 x 1.5 m quadrats were placed in each plot and all species present and their cover recorded.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)