Establishment of rare flood meadow species by plant material transfer: experimental tests of threshold amounts and the effect of sowing position

Published source details Schmiede R., Ruprecht E., Eckstein R.L., Otte A. & Donath T.W. (2013) Establishment of rare flood meadow species by plant material transfer: experimental tests of threshold amounts and the effect of sowing position. Biological Conservation, 159, 222-229.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Transfer plant material from intact grassland alongside seeding/planting Action Link

Transfer plant material from intact grassland alongside seeding/planting

A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 2006–2008 in a mesic grassland in Germany (Schmiede et al. 2013) found that transferring plant material alongside sowing seeds had mixed effects on seedling emergence compared to sowing seeds without plant material. When low amounts of plant material were added (400–800 g/m²), seedling emergence did not differ significantly between plots where plant material was added and seeds were sown (5–8%) and areas where no plant material was added but seeds were sown (7%). However, at high rates of plant material addition (1,600–3,200 g/m²), emergence was lower in plots where plant material was added and seeds were sown (0–1%) than in areas where no plant material was added but seeds were sown (7%). In February 2007, five blocks each containing five 3 × 3 m plots were ploughed and levelled with a harrow. Plant material from an intact grassland was added at a rate of 400, 800, 1,600, or 3,200 g/m² to one plot in each block, while one plot received no plant material. Seeds of eight species were sown at a rate of 1,600 seeds/plot. Seedling emergence was assessed in each plot in July and October 2007 and April, July and October 2008.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)