Abstract
Abstract Native grasslands in the Campos de Cima da Serra, Brazil, are being converted at speed for exotic tree plantations and cropland. The impact of modified and novel soil conditions on the establishment of native grassland species is unknown; establishment of non-native species, deliberately or accidentally introduced, could be favoured. In a common garden composed of fully randomized replicate samples of soils collected from remnant grassland, former cropland and pine plantations, we tested emergence and establishment of five cold-season species: Native low-tussock grass Piptochaetium montevidense (Spreng.) Parodi; native legume Trifolium riograndense Burkart; naturalized low-tussock grass Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray; low-tussock grass Holcus lanatus L., cultivated and naturalized in Brazil; and a cultivar of non-native Trifolium repens. Other than expected, soil type and species*soil type interactions had no significant effect on seedling emergence after 132 days in the field. Species effect on seedling emergence, however, was highly significant. Vulpia bromoides emergence was significantly highest in all soil types. Holcus lanatus and Trifolium riograndense both achieved second highest emergence rates and did not differ significantly from each other. Lowest overall emergence rates were found in the non-native clover cultivar. Lab germination tests failed for Piptochaetium, although it showed reasonable emergence in the field. Good performance of the native clover is encouraging for future grassland restoration, but the value of highly germinable Vulpia as a forage remains to be tested. Holcus tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and its life history traits may promote naturalization, or even invasiveness. Native grasslands of the region should be monitored for this species. Studies like these, but set up on a larger geographical scale and with a wider array of native species, will be essential in developing ecological restoration methods for southern Brazilian grasslands.
Highlights
In the past decade, considerable changes in the landscape and in land use have occurred in the highlands of southern Brazil
The Eurasian-origin tussock grass Holcus lanatus, for example, is being deliberately seeded in winter pastures of the Campos de Cima da Serra - which are often established in rotation with intensely cultivated crops such as potato and maize - and has expanded outside these areas in recent years
Emergence of Vulpia bromoides, originally a Eurasian species and naturalised in Brazil, was higher than that of the other species and this difference was more pronounced in ex-cropland soil than in the other two soils with lower pH and nutrient status
Summary
Considerable changes in the landscape and in land use have occurred in the highlands of southern Brazil. For most native forages, routines for seed sourcing, testing and propagation have not been established. Revegetation of these areas relies on colonization from the regional species pool which contains both native and non-native species. The Eurasian-origin tussock grass Holcus lanatus, for example, is being deliberately seeded in winter pastures of the Campos de Cima da Serra - which are often established in rotation with intensely cultivated crops such as potato and maize - and has expanded outside these areas in recent years. Cultivars of Eurasian-origin legumes Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens are used for winter forage and establish spontaneously, principally in roadsides and lawns in settlement areas. Native grassland species are presumably well adapted to the highly acidic grassland soils, but their performance in altered soil, relative to that of non-native species, is unknown
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
