USE OF WILD PLANT HERBACEOUS SPECIES FOR REVEGETATION

Abstract

The use of wild plant species for revegetation after disturbance has proved necessary in mountain areas where commercial seed mixtures often do not produce good results, sometimes impede vegetation dynamics and provide poor soil protection. This study was conducted in association with groups of French researchers to select suitable herbaceous wild species from natural sites and evaluate their utilisation. Three types of treatment were compared on a highway embankment and in a quarry: seeding with a commercial mixture of grasses and legumes (CM): seeding with a commercial grass-legume mixture supplemented with wild species (WM); no seeding (NM). Vegetation analysis for four years showed that the WM mixture resulted in higher biodiversity and a more balanced and steady plant cover, while the appearance of woody seedlings proved that a natural dynamics was favoured. By contrast, the high thatch produced by the CM mixture hindered the evolution of the cover. The use of wild species was thus found to be effective. Their selection to meet the needs of different environments and situations requires further study.