Restoration of grasslands on ex-arable land using regional and commercial seed mixtures and spontaneous succession: successional trajectories and changes in species richness
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Published source details
Prach K., Jongepierová I., Řehounková K. & Fajmon K. (2014) Restoration of grasslands on ex-arable land using regional and commercial seed mixtures and spontaneous succession: successional trajectories and changes in species richness. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 182, 131-136.
Published source details Prach K., Jongepierová I., Řehounková K. & Fajmon K. (2014) Restoration of grasslands on ex-arable land using regional and commercial seed mixtures and spontaneous succession: successional trajectories and changes in species richness. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 182, 131-136.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Sow native grass and forbs Action Link |
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Sow native grass and forbs
A replicated, site comparison study in 2009–2011 in 47 restored grassland sites and 25 intact grassland sites in the Czech Republic (Prach et al. 2014) found that sowing grass and forb seeds did not alter plant species richness, or the number or cover of grassland species compared to not sowing seed. After seven years, plant species richness in areas where seeds were sown (31.2 species/plot) did not differ significantly from that found in areas where no seeds were sown (47.8 species/plot), but both had fewer species than nearby intact dry grasslands (62.4 species/plot). The number of grassland species followed a similar trend (seeded: 19.7 species/plot, unseeded: 24.6 species/plot, intact grassland: 55.6 species/plot) as did the cover of grassland species (seeded: 74.3%, unseeded: 68.7%, intact grassland: 102.7%). Between one and 11 years before the start of the study, 35 restored sites were sown with a seed mix containing 44 local plant species at a rate of 17–20 kg/ha and 16 sites were not sown with seed. Twenty-five intact dry grassland sites were also used as a comparison. In 2009–2011, three 5 x 5 m plots were placed in each site and cover of all plant species visually estimated.
(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
Output references
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