Vegetation recovery of gypsum quarries: short-term sowing response to different soil treatments

Published source details Ballesteros M., Cañadas E.M., Foronda A., Fernández-Ondoño E., Peñas J. & Lorite J. (2012) Vegetation recovery of gypsum quarries: short-term sowing response to different soil treatments. Applied Vegetation Science, 15, 187-197.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use erosion blanket after seeding/planting Action Link
	Add fertilizer to soil before or after seeding/planting Action Link
	Sow native grass and forbs Action Link

Use erosion blanket after seeding/planting

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2009–2010 in an agricultural field in southern Spain (Ballesteros et al. 2012) found that using an organic blanket after sowing seeds increased plant density and species richness compared to sowing without an organic blanket. In four of four comparisons, plant density was higher in plots where seeds were sown and an organic blanket was used (4–34 plants/m²) than in plots where seeds were sown and no blanket was used (1–11 plants/m²). A similar pattern was seen in four of four comparisons for plant species richness (with organic blanket: 0.4–3.2 species/0.25 m²; without organic blanket: 0.2–1.8 species/0.25 m²). In November 2009, forty 5 x 5 m plots were sown with locally collected seeds of seven native grass and forb species. An organic blanket (biodegradable net made of straw and alpha grass Stipa tenacissima) was randomly added to half of the plots, while the other half had no blanket added. Four different bedding materials were applied to plots prior to seeding (see original paper for details). Plant density and species richness were estimated in July and October 2010 using fifteen randomly placed 0.5 x 0.5 m quadrats/plot.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
Add fertilizer to soil before or after seeding/planting

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2009–2010 in an agricultural field in southern Spain (Ballesteros et al. 2012) found that adding organic matter and sowing seeds did not alter plant density or species richness compared to sowing seeds without organic matter. In each of four comparisons, plant density and species richness were similar in plots where organic matter was added and seeds were sown (1–13 plants/m²; 0.3–2.1 species/0.25 m²) and in plots where organic matter was not added and seeds were sown (1–11 plants/m²; 0.2–1.8 species/0.25 m²). In November 2009, forty 5 x 5 m plots were sown with locally collected seeds of seven native grass and forb species. Organic matter (a commercial substrate) was randomly added to half of the plots (160 l/plot), while the other half had no organic matter added. Four different bedding materials were also applied to plots prior to seeding (see original paper for details). Plant density and species richness were estimated in July and October 2010 using fifteen randomly placed 0.5 x 0.5 m quadrats/plot.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
Sow native grass and forbs

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2009–2010 in an agricultural field in southern Spain (Ballesteros et al. 2012) found that sowing native grass and forb seeds increased plant density and species richness. In plots where seeds were sown, plant density was higher (1–11 plants/m²) than in plots where no seeds were sown (0 plants/m²). A similar pattern was seen for plant species richness (seeded: 0.2–1.8 species/0.25 m², unseeded: 0 species/0.25 m²). In November 2009, locally collected seeds of seven native grass and forb species were sown in 20 randomly placed 5 x 5 m plots, and 20 plots were left unsown. Four different bedding materials were applied to plots prior to seeding (see original paper for details). Plant density and species richness were estimated in July and October 2010 using fifteen randomly placed 0.5 x 0.5 m quadrats/plot.

(Summarised by: Philip Martin)