Influence of soil properties on coastal sandplain grassland establishment on former agricultural fields

摘要: The decline in species-rich grasslands across the United States has increased importance of conservation and restoration efforts to preserve biodiversity supported by these habitats. Abandoned agricultural fields often provide practical locations for reestablishment grasslands. However, retain legacies agriculture both their soils, which may have higher pH nitrogen (N) contents than soils that were never farmed, plant communities, are dominated non-native species poor native seed stock. We considered methods reversing create native-species-rich grassland on former land. tested seeding tilling combined with additions sulfur (S), carbon (C), N or water establish diverse sandplain vegetation an old field Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. measured soil pH, extractable nitrate ammonium, total richness cover 5 years after treatment. S lowered values typical never-tilled ecosystems cover, but had no effect richness. C, N, significant effects vegetation. Seeding more effective at restoring any amendments indicated a greater biotic factors compared conditions promoting establishment. amendment accelerated establishment several alone declined over time.