Abstract
Species-rich hay meadows have evolved through traditional management. They are important habitats for plant and animal species and therefore protected by the EU Habitats Directive. The maintenance of these meadows requires regular cutting, but this can only be guaranteed if farmers benefit in some way. Both agricultural productivity and botanical composition are fundamentally affected by management practices. For this reason, a management that balances productivity and conservation goals is necessary. The purpose of this study is to determine the site-specific influence of extensive fertilisation and date of first cut on the botanical composition of species-rich hay meadows. Three fertilisation variants (none, PK and NPK) and four cutting-date variants (based on phenological stage: first cut before, at beginning of, at end of and after flowering of main grasses) were tested on lowland hay meadows at two sites. However, after the 3 years of the trial, the date of first cut had still not significantly influenced botanical composition at the first site. By contrast, annual fertilisation was found to have a significant effect on botanical composition. The conservation status of the species-rich meadows was downgraded (grades given according to assessment parameters) mainly through the application of NPK fertiliser (35 kg P2O5, 120 kg K2O and 35 kg N ha−1) each year. At one site, cutting before flowering led to declining proportions of annuals and biennials. Surprisingly, at the other site, the date of first cut had still not significantly influenced botanical composition by the end of the 3-year trial.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blažek P, Lepš J (2015) Victims of agricultural intensification. Agric Ecosyst Environ 211:10–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.04.022
Breunig T, Hummel R, Reifenstein V, Wiest K (2015) Mähwiesen-Monitoring -erste Auswertung der Ergebnisse von 2012 bis 2014. Naturschutzinfo 24–32
Bullock JM, Pywell RF (2005) Rhinanthus. Folia Geobot. 40:273–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02803240
Buse J, Boch S, Hilgers J, Griebeler EM (2015) Conservation of threatened habitat types under future climate change—lessons from plant-distribution models and current extinction trends in southern Germany. J. Nat. Conserv. 27:18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2015.06.001
Core Team R (2016) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna
Council of the European Communities (1992) Council Directive 92/43/ECC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). Official Journal of the European Communities 35:7–50
Couvreur J-M, Fiévet V, Smits Q, Dufrene M (2015) Evaluation of the “observer effect” in botanical surveys of grasslands. Biotechnol Agron Soc Environ. 19:132–142
Crawley MJ, Johnston AE, Silvertown J, Dodd M, de Mazancourt C, Heard MS, Henman DF, Edwards GR (2005) Determinants of species richness in the Park Grass Experiment. Am Nat 165:179–192. https://doi.org/10.1086/427270
Di Giulio M, Edwards PJ, Meister E (2001) Enhancing insect diversity in agricultural grasslands. J Appl Ecol 38:310–319. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2001.00605.x
Elgersma A, Søegaard K (2016) Effects of species diversity on seasonal variation in herbage yield and nutritive value of seven binary grass-legume mixtures and pure grass under cutting. Eur J Agron 78:73–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.04.011
Eriksson O, Bolmgren K, Westin A, Lennartsson T (2015) Historic hay cutting dates from Sweden 1873–1951 and their implications for conservation management of species-rich meadows. Biol Conserv 184:100–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.01.012
European Commission, DG Environment (2007) Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats. Version EUR 27, Brussels, 80–81. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/docs/2007_07_im.pdf. Accessed 28 Nov 2017
Grime JP (1974) Vegetation classification by reference to strategies. Nature 250:26–31. https://doi.org/10.1038/250026a0
Harpole WS, Tilman D (2007) Grassland species loss resulting from reduced niche dimension. Nat. (Nature) 446:791–793. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05684
Hejcman M, Klaudisová M, Schellberg J, Honsová D (2007) The Rengen grassland experiment. Agric Ecosyst Environ 122:259–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2006.12.036
Hejcman M, Hejcmanová P, Pavlů V, Beneš J (2013) Origin and history of grasslands in Central Europe - a review. Grass Forage Sci 68:345–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12066
Isselstein J, Michaelis T, Bellof G (2015) The Grassland Expert Forum, State 12/2015. German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA), Braunschweig
Jefferson RG (2005) The conservation management of upland hay meadows in Britain. Grass and Forage Sci 60:322–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2005.00489.x
Kirkham FW, Tallowin JR (1995) The influence of cutting date and previous fertilizer treatment on the productivity and botanical composition of species-rich hay meadows on the Somerset Levels. Grass and Forage Sci 50:365–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1995.tb02331.x
Kirkham FW, Tallowin JR, Sanderson RA, Bhogal A, Chambers BJ, Stevens DP (2008) The impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers and lime on the species-richness and plant functional characteristics of hay meadow communities. Biol Conserv 141:1411–1427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.03.010
Kirkham FW, Tallowin JRB, Dunn RM, Bhogal A, Chambers BJ, Bardgett RD, Kleijn D (2014) Ecologically sustainable fertility management for the maintenance of species-rich hay meadows. J Appl Ecol 51:152–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12169
Koch B, Schiess-Bühler C (2003) 3.4 Förderung der Artenvielfalt durch gezielte Bewirtschaftung artenreicher Wiesen. In: Oppermann R, Gujer HU (eds) Artenreiches Grünland Bewerten und fördern. Ulmer, Stuttgart, pp 116–119
Lepš J, Šmilauer P (2003) Multivariate analysis of ecological data using CANOCO. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
LUBW (2014) Natura 2000. Handbuch für die Erstellung von Managementplänen für Natura 2000-Gebiete in Baden-Württemberg. Version 1.3. https://www4.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/servlet/is/13930/handbuch_erstellung_managementplaenen.pdf?command=downloadContent&filename=handbuch_erstellung_managementplaenen.pdf. Accessed 28 Nov 2017
LUBW (2016) Kartieranleitung Offenland-Biotopkartierung Baden-Württemberg. http://www.fachdokumente.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/servlet/is/95746/kartieranleitung_offenland-biotopkartierung.pdf?command=downloadContent&filename=kartieranleitung_offenland-biotopkartierung.pdf. Accessed 28 Nov 2017
Mielke H, Wohlers W (2016) Praxishandbuch Grünland. ERLING Verlag GmbH&Co, KG
Moog D, Poschlod P, Kahmen S, Schreiber K-F (2002) Comparison of species composition between different grassland management treatments after 25 years. Appl Veg Sci 5:99–106
Mücher CA, Hennekens SM, Bunce RG, Schaminée JH, Schaepman ME (2009) Modelling the spatial distribution of Natura 2000 habitats across Europe. Landsc Urban Plan 92:148–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2009.04.003
Oppermann R, Briemle G (2009) Artenreiche Wiesen und Weiden - Umfang und Bedeutung in Baden-Württemberg. In: Schreiber K-F, Briemle G (eds) Artenreiches Grünland in der Kulturlandschaft. Regionalkultur, Ubstadt-Weiher
Orford KA, Murray PJ, Vaughan IP, Memmott J (2016) Modest enhancements to conventional grassland. J Appl Ecol 53:906–915. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12608
Ostermann OP (1998) The need for management of nature conservation sites designated under Natura 2000. J Appl Ecol 35:968–973. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.1998.tb00016.x
Pärtel M, Bruun HH, Sammul M (2005) Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation. In: Lillak R, Viiralt R, Linke A, Geherman V (eds) Integrating efficient grassland farming and biodiversity. Tartu, Estonia
Raufer B, Seither M, Bauer R, Thumm U, Elsaesser M (2015) Erhaltungszustand und derzeitige Situation von Mageren Flachland-Mähwiesen in Baden-Württemberg am Beispiel des Landkreises Esslingen. In: LAZBW Aulendorf (eds) Tagungsband der 59. Jahrestagung der AGGF in Aulendorf 2015. https://www.grassland-organicfarming.uni-kiel.de/de/pdf/aggf_2015_alle.pdf (accessed 28.11.2017)
Seither M, King K (2012) Floristische Untersuchungen zur Düngeverträglichkeit von mesotrophem FFH-Grünland. https://www.landwirtschaft-bw.info/pb/site/lel/get/documents/MLR.LEL/PB5Documents/lazbw_gl/Floristische%20Untersuchungen%20zur%20D%C3%BCngevertr%C3%A4glichkeit%20von%20mesotrophem%20FFH-Gr%C3%BCnland_Versuchsbericht.pdf?attachment=true. Accessed 28 Nov 2017
Smith RS, Rushton SP (1994) The effects of grazing management on the vegetation of mesotrophic (Meadow) grassland in Northern England. J Appl Ecol 31:13. https://doi.org/10.2307/2404595
Smith RS, Buckingham H, Bullard MJ, Shiel RS, Younger A (1996) The conservation management of mesotrophic (meadow) grassland in Northern England. 1. Effects of grazing, cutting date and fertilizer on the vegetation of a traditionally managed sward. Grass Forage Sci 51:278–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1996.tb02063.x
Socher SA, Prati D, Boch S, Müller J, Klaus VH, Hölzel N, Fischer M (2012) Direct and productivity-mediated indirect effects of fertilization, mowing and grazing on grassland species richness. J Ecol 100:1391–1399. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02020.x
Socher SA, Prati D, Boch S, Müller J, Baumbach H, Gockel S, Hemp A, Schöning I, Wells K, Buscot F, Kalko EK, Linsenmair KE, Schulze E-D, Weisser WW, Fischer M (2013) Interacting effects of fertilization, mowing and grazing on plant species diversity of 1500 grasslands in Germany differ between regions. Basic and Appl. Ecol 14:126–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2012.12.003
ter Braak C, Smilauer P (2006) Canoco for Windows. Biometris-Plant Research International, Wageningen
Tonn, B. and Elsaesser, M., Ministerium für Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz (2013) Infoblatt Natura 2000. Wie bewirtschafte ich eine FFH-Mähwiese? http://www.landwirtschaft-bw.info/site/pbs-bw-new/get/documents/MLR.LEL/PB5Documents/lazbw_gl/Extensivgr%C3%BCnland/Ver%C3%B6ffentlichungen/FFH/Infoblatt%20Natura%202000.pdf. Accessed 25 Jan 2017
VDLUFA (1991) VDLUFA Methodenbuch Band I Die Untersuchung von Böden, fourth ed. VDLUFA-Verlag
Vickery JA, Tallowin JR, Feber RE, Asteraki EJ, Atkinson PW, Fuller RJ, Brown VK (2001) The management of lowland neutral grasslands in Britain. J Appl Ecol 38:647–664. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2001.00626.x
Voigtländer G, Voss N (1979) Methoden der Grünlanduntersuchung und -bewertung. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, pp 21–24
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the laboratories of Ihinger Hof for the soil analyses, as well as D. Mezger, J. Class, S. Rothenhäusler and students for their technical support. We are grateful to landowners and farmers for providing the species-rich meadows. We thank J. Möhring and A. Bernal for their statistical advice and N. Gaudet for improving the language quality of the manuscript. This work was supported by earmarked contributions of the Gluecksspirale and Stiftung Naturschutzfonds Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Daniel Sanchez Mata.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boob, M., Truckses, B., Seither, M. et al. Management effects on botanical composition of species-rich meadows within the Natura 2000 network. Biodivers Conserv 28, 729–750 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-01689-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-01689-1