The role of soil seed banks in restoration of two hay meadows
Abstract
Seed bank composition of differently managed (resumed mowing and abandoned) stands of mesophilous Cirsio-Brachypodion grasslands and of Molinion fen meadows were studied in the the species-rich ’Gyertyán-kúti-rétek’ meadows (Zemplén Mts.). In four managed (resumed mowing since 1993) and four abandoned stands the species list of vascular species was recorded in 2004 (five 4m2 sized permanent plots per stand). Soil seed banks were analyzed in 2005-2006 using the seedling emergence method on early spring samples. Mesophilous grasslands only possessed relatively sparse seed banks (4,800 to 7,000 seeds/m2) with a low similarity to aboveground vegetation (Sørensen index: 0.17–0.20). Among frequent herbs Stellaria graminea, while among grasses Sieglingia decumbens developed significantly more dense seed banks in the mown plots. Fen meadows had dense seed banks (65,000 to 94,000 seeds/m2) with low to medium similarity to vegetation (Sørensen index: 0.20–0.40). Seed bank dominants were Juncus conglomeratus and J. effusus. Further frequent species involved Agrostis canina, Campanula patula, Carex pallescens, Luzula multiflora, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Potentilla erecta and Viola canina. Contrary, no seeds of the frequent Achillea ptarmica, Gladiolus imbricatus, Gentiana pneumonanthe or Sanguisorba officinalis were detected. Some sedges (Carex flava, C. nigra, C. ovalis) were only detected in the soil seed bank. Several herbs had more dense seed banks in managed plots whereas dominant grasses, Molinia arundinacea and Deschampsia cespitosa possessed higher seed densities in unmown plots. Low similarity of vegetation and seed banks as well as low seed densities in mesophilous stands can be a problem for restoration when overgrown. Species loss of degraded sites can only be overcome by reintroduction of lost species. Similarly, lack of persistent seeds in a number of species and overrepresentation of common sedges can hamper restoration also in fen meadows.
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