QuestionsFertilizer application is a key driver affecting the diversity and conservation value grassland vegetation. Using a long‐term fertilization experiment in mountain grassland, we addressed the following questions: (a) what is the effect of long‐term fertilizer applications on species richness and plant species composition, and (b) is there any detectable trend in plant species composition during ten years of continuous observation?LocationThe Rengen Grassland Experiment, Eifel Mountains, Germany (established in 1941).MethodsFive treatments including different fertilizers applied annually and one unfertilized control were analysed: Ca (718 kg Ca ha−1); CaN (752 Ca and 100 N kg ha−1); CaNP (752 Ca, 100 N and 35 P kg ha−1); CaNP‐KCl (752 Ca, 100 N, 35 P and 133 K kg ha−1); CaNP‐K2SO4 (752 Ca, 100 N, 35 P and 133 K kg ha−1). The experiment included five replicates per treatment in a fully randomized block design. All treatments were cut twice a year in late June or early July, and in mid‐October. Percentage cover of individual plant species was estimated by visual observation in each plot in late June in the years 2005–2014.ResultsDespite inter‐annual variability in the cover of the individual vascular plant species, the multivariate data analyses revealed a relatively similar response of the plant community to the different fertilizer applications throughout the ten years. With phosphorus application, no differences in botanical composition among treatments were found; however, they did differ from other treatments without phosphorus application. In the unfertilized control, there was a certain directed trend in plant species composition in response to ongoing nutrient impoverishment.ConclusionSpecies‐rich grasslands of high nature conservation value were only maintained under P limitation in the control without fertilizer application (Violion caninae) and in the liming treatment (Polygono‐Trisetion), but also in the treatment with liming and pure N addition. It seems that after 74 years, some stage of equilibrium of the grassland community was achieved in all treatments receiving any type of fertilizer application, but less so in the unfertilized control treatment.
AimTypha latifolia causes serious problems in wet meadows by overgrowing and suppressing other native plants. To determine suitable management for T. latifolia control, we addressed the following question: What are the effects of long‐term cutting at different frequencies (once or twice per year and no management) and biomass removal on cover and other characteristics of T. latifolia, and on sward productivity and plant species composition?LocationMalá Strana nature reserve, Jizerské hory Mountains, Czechia.MethodsA long‐term experiment arranged in a randomised block design with three blocks was established in 2005. Data were collected from five treatments: unmanaged control; cutting once a year in June without biomass removal and with biomass removal; cutting twice per year in June and August without biomass removal and with biomass removal. Percentage cover of T. latifolia and other vascular plant species was visually estimated and T. latifolia characteristics (tiller density, height, dry‐matter biomass [DMB] yield and litter), sward height and DMB yield were measured during 2005–2018 at the end of June.Results and DiscussionRegular cutting once or twice per year regardless of cut biomass removal led to reductions in tiller density, height, litter and DMB yield of T. latifolia. Biomass removal had only a slight tendency to affect T. latifolia characteristics. The higher frequency of cutting significantly decreased the mean T. latifolia cover, litter and DMB yield. Cutting once or twice per year regardless of biomass removal led to successive changes in plant species composition but had no effect on the species richness and evenness.ConclusionsCutting at least once per year without biomass removal seems to be sufficient to achieve a decrease in DMB yield and litter of T. latifolia plants, and thereby maintain the wet‐meadow vegetation without loss of species richness and also preventing the overgrowth of shrubs and trees.
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