Species-rich grassland communities as a resource for preserving biological diversity (SALVERE)

Natural grassland communities are highly endangered throughout Europe. Unspoiled, species-rich meadows are home to subspecies and ecotypes typical of the region, with a species composition that is typical of the region. They therefore have not only a high conservation and aesthetic value, but also a high economic value. The seed mixtures harvested directly from the meadows can be used regionally for greening and renaturation measures, thus contributing directly to the preservation and development of biological diversity in the landscape.

As part of the SALVERE project, a total of 17 large-scale pilot projects were set up in the six participating countries (Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic) in the summer of 2009. The seed material required for this was obtained from species-rich donor areas (smooth oat grass meadows, semi-dry grasslands, burnet meadows, moor grass meadows) by mowing, threshing, or brushing. In addition, seeds from regional propagation of native sources were sown to supplement missing or non-fruiting species. These 17 areas are used as demonstration areas and are intended to convince experts, planners, and authorities of the numerous advantages of these methods. In Saxony-Anhalt, a smooth oat grass meadow was created on the campus in Strenzfeld and a burnet meadow in Wulfener Bruch.

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Project priorities

The main objective of the project was to improve harvesting methods for seed mixtures from near-natural grassland communities and to optimize near-natural greening methods for the creation of species-rich meadows on former arable land and raw soil areas, as well as for the enhancement of species-poor commercial grassland. The quality of the harvested seed material was documented through qualitative and quantitative analyses in the laboratory and greenhouse.

Project region

Germany (Strenzfeld, Wulfener Bruch near Dessau), Italy, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic

Further project details

• Case study 1 – Establishment of a smooth oat grass meadow

  IIn the district of Bernburg, the Rößewiese, a landscape park in the Bernburg urban area, is one of the few smooth oat grass meadows that still has a largely complete species population. In 2009, a total of 84 higher plants, including 66 target species, were identified there. At the end of August 2009, seed-rich mown grass and meadow threshing were harvested on the site. A former field on the Strenzfeld campus served as the recipient area, which was depleted by two rounds of fertilizer-free cultivation with winter wheat, so that the average P content in March 2009 was only 4.1 mg per 100 g of soil (±2). The donor area has a P content of 2.7 mg per 100 g of soil (±2). The seed-rich material was applied in four variants on a 2800 m² block trial:
  GH: mown grass (approx. 670 g dry weight per m²)
  GH+S: Mown material (as GH) with reseeding (1.5 g/m²) of 37 native species from regional propagation

  

  

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• Results

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  In the greenhouse experiment, 56 species (= 67%) were detected in GH and 53 species (= 63%) in OST of the donor area. The figure shows how many individuals germinated between March 3 and August 23, 2010, calculated for the amount harvested per 1 m2 of donor area.

  By September 2010, 136 species had appeared on the recipient area, 67 of which were target species. The transfer rate for GH is 68% and for OST 50%. Of the species sown, 81% have established themselves so far. The table shows the breakdown of species numbers on the variants, separated into target and non-target species, in September 2010.

  Further results can be found in Kirmer & Tischew (2014).

  

  

• Case study 2 – Establishment of a burnet meadow

  The Wulfener Bruch is located in the district of Köthen and is part of the UNESCO Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve. Drainage, intensification, and agricultural use are leading to the steady degradation of this wetland area, which covers more than 800 hectares. In 2009, a total of 123 higher plant species, including 68 target species, were identified on a single-cut hay meadow. In September 2009, seed-rich hay and meadow threshing were harvested on this area. A former arable field in the Wulfener Bruch, on which corn was grown without fertilization in spring 2009, served as the recipient area. Nevertheless, the average P content in March 2009 was still 8.6 mg per 100 g of soil (±2.9). The donor area has a P content of 0.9 mg per 100 g of soil (±0.4). The seed-rich material was applied in four variants on a 7800 m² block trial:
  GH: mown grass (approx. 1700 g dry weight per m²)
  GH+S: mown grass (as GH) with reseeding (0.8 g/m²) of 17 native species from regional propagation
  OST: meadow threshing (approx. 20 g/m², unpurified)
  OST+S: Meadow threshing (as OST) with reseeding (as GH+S)

  

  

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• Results

  In greenhouse trials, 46 species (= 38%) were detected in GH and 54 species (45%) in OST of the donor area. The figure shows how many individuals germinated between March 3 and August 23, 2010, calculated for the amount harvested per 1 m2 of donor area.By September 2010, 120 species had appeared on the recipient area, 49 of which were target species. The transfer rate for GH is 55% and for OST 50%. Of the species sown, 65% have established themselves so far. The table shows the breakdown of species numbers on the variants, separated into target and non-target species, in September 2010.

  

  

• What happens next?

  On the Strenzfeld campus, two years of land preparation brought the nutrient status to a level suitable for smooth oat grass meadows. As part of development maintenance, the areas were mowed in June and October 2010 using a small ride-on mower with a grass catcher, and the clippings were removed. Since 2011, the areas have been mowed in June and grazed by sheep in September.

  At Wulfener Bruch, the nutrient status is still much too high for burnet meadows. In the coming years, two mowings with removal of the biomass will be necessary to continue the process of nutrient depletion and to suppress nitrophilic species (e.g., Urtica dioica). In general, the proportion of herbs in the areas in September 2010 was relatively low, averaging 17% (±13) of the total cover. Holcus lanatus, Festuca arundinacea, F. pratensis, Alopecurus pratensis, and Dactylis glomerata in particular formed dense swaths that hindered the development of the target herbaceous species. However, experience from other projects suggests that regular mowing will promote the target species. Since spring 2013, the areas have been grazed year-round by Konik horses and Heck cattle, although grazing had to be interrupted for a long period due to the catastrophic flooding in July 2013.

  Data collection will continue on both demonstration areas in the coming years in order to track the long-term development of the various variants.

  The results will be incorporated into a practical handbook on seed collection and the renaturation of species-rich grassland, which will be published in German and English at the end of 2011.

  

  

  

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