Study

Effects of species richness on resident and target species components in a prairie restoration

  • Published source details Piper J.K., Schmidt E.S. & Janzen A.J. (2007) Effects of species richness on resident and target species components in a prairie restoration. Restoration Ecology, 15, 189-198.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Increase number of species in seed mix

Action Link
Grassland Conservation
  1. Increase number of species in seed mix

    A replicated, controlled study in 2000–2004 in a former arable field in Kansas, USA (Piper et al. 2007) found that increasing the number of species in a seed mix increased the species richness of sown species. Species richness of sown plant species was higher in areas sown with the seeds of eight to 16 species (4–9 species/plot) than in areas sown with one to four species (1–3 species/plot). In February 2000, soil at the site was disturbed by harrowing. Five 6 × 6 m plots were each sown with the seeds of one, two, three, four, eight, 12 or 16 plant species. Seeds were a mixture of grasses, nitrogen-fixing species and Asteraceae obtained from local or regional commercial suppliers. Plots were mowed in June 2000, April and June 2001, and November or December 2002, 2003 and 2004. In June each year, species richness and plant cover were estimated using four 0.75 × 0.75 m quadrats placed in each plot.

    (Summarised by: Philip Martin)

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