Studying long-term, large-scale grassland restoration outcomes to improve seeding methods and reveal knowledge gaps

Published source details Rinella M.J., Espeland E.K. & Moffatt B.J. (2016) Studying long-term, large-scale grassland restoration outcomes to improve seeding methods and reveal knowledge gaps. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1565-1574.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Sow seeds at a higher density Action Link

Sow seeds at a higher density

A site comparison study in 1985–2012 at nine former coal mine sites in Montana and Wyoming, USA (Rinella et al. 2016) found that sowing grass seeds at a higher density reduced the cover of native grassland shrubs but did not alter the cover of unseeded non-native grasses and forbs. After 8–20 years, the cover of native grassland shrubs was on average lower in fields that were sown with higher densities of grass seeds (data reported as statistical model results). The average cover of unseeded non-native grasses and forbs did not differ significantly between fields that were sown with low, moderate or high grass seed densities (data reported as statistical model results). In 1985–2005, seed mixes of grasses, forbs and shrubs (average 15 species) were sown in 327 fields at nine former coal mine sites. Grass seeds were sown at low (0–4 kg/ha), moderate (>4–8 kg/ha), or high (>8 kg/ha) densities (number of sites for each not reported). Crushed rock and topsoil were added prior to sowing. In 2011 and 2012, vegetation was sampled within 20 frames (20 x 50 cm, seven sites) or 1–3 areas (4.6 x 45.7 m, two sites) evenly spaced along a transect in each field.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)