Study

Minimal persistence of native bunchgrasses seven years after seeding, following mastication and prescribed fire in southwestern Oregon, USA

  • Published source details Busby L. & Southworth D. (2014) Minimal persistence of native bunchgrasses seven years after seeding, following mastication and prescribed fire in southwestern Oregon, USA. Fire Ecology, 10, 63-71.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Sow grass seeds

Action Link
Grassland Conservation
  1. Sow grass seeds

    A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 2005–2012 in two cleared sites in Oregon, USA (Busby & Southworth 2014) found that sowing grass seeds initially increased grass cover, but after seven years there was no difference in grass cover between sown and unsown areas. After two years, grass cover was higher in plots where grass seeds were sown (9.7%) than in plots where they were not sown (0.2%). However, after seven years there was no significant difference in the grass cover in sown (1.9%) and unsown plots (0.4%). In 2001–2002, woody vegetation was removed using a masticator, and in 2005, prescribed burning was carried out. Two weeks after burning, native grass seeds of four species were sown in 15 randomly located 1-m2 plots at each site, while no seeds were sown in another 15 plots. Grass cover was estimated in each plot in 2006, 2007 and 2012.

    (Summarised by: Philip Martin)

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