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Fertilizer application is a widely used management technique for increasing forage production from agricultural grassland. Fertilization is also a key driver of changes in soil nutrient status and plant species composition of grassland as shown in many short-term studies. Results from long-term experiments can further improve understanding of plant-soil relationships and help with management recommendations for agricultural and environmental outcomes. We collected data from a long-term experiment on alluvial meadow (Admont Grassland Experiment, Austria; established 1946) with 24 fertilization treatments managed under a three-cut regime. Soil sampling in autumn 2015 and vegetation sampling in spring 2016 were conducted in seven selected treatments. Combinations of N (nitrogen 80 kg ha−1), P (phosphorus 35 kg ha−1) and K (potassium 100 kg ha−1) were applied annually and compared with a non-fertilized control. Treatments were: Control, N, P, K, NP, NK, PK and NPK fertilization. Long-term different fertilization affected soil pH and nutrient concentrations in the soil and plant species composition, but no significant effects on species richness were found. Short species ( Results from the Admont Grassland Experiment show that the tested nutrient combinations significantly increased DMB yield and changed the species composition, but without significant effects on species richness. Long-term biomass yields of more than 5 t ha−1 DMB per year can be achieved with any nutrient combination containing P without loss species richness in an alluvial meadow managed under a three-cut regime.

Summary Docks can be serious weeds of arable land and permanent grasslands where they can persist through well-established root systems. A Rumex hybrid (R. patientia x R. tianschanicus; cv. OK-2, Uteusha) has been planted as a forage and energy crop since 2001 in Czechia and has now become a new weed species. As its ecological characteristics are unknown, there is a need for improved knowledge for developing control measures and strategies. In 2010 and 2011, we performed a tube pot experiment to investigate above-ground and below-ground biomass growth dynamics and below-ground biomass allocation of Rumex OK-2. We compared the hybrid with Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius during the vegetation season in the seeding year. Above-ground and below-ground biomass of Rumex species tended to increase from July to September. In the seeding year, flowering was recorded only for one plant of Rumex OK-2 and 27.5% of R. obtusifolius plants, whereas R. crispus did not flower. The proportion of below-ground biomass of Rumex species in the upper 30 cm was about 70–80%. The growth dynamics and allocation of below-ground biomass of Rumex OK-2 were more like R. crispus than to R. obtusifolius. These similarities indicate the potential of Rumex OK-2 to become a troublesome weedy species, comparable with R. crispus.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.) is a common forb species in grasslands in Europe. Although sometimes regarded as a valuable forage herb, it may become a weed, especially in arable land. There is limited information on the response of Taraxacum to long-term grassland management practices. Therefore, we analysed cover and dry-matter standing biomass of Taraxacum in a long-term (1998–2012) grazing experiment on an Agrostis capillaris grassland. The following treatments were laid out on formerly abandoned grassland: (i) intensive grazing (IG); (ii) extensive grazing (EG); (iii) first cut followed by intensive grazing (ICG); (iv) first cut followed by extensive grazing (ECG); and (v) unmanaged grassland (U). During the first 10 years, all defoliation treatments (i–iv) supported the presence of Taraxacum, and the lowest proportion was recorded in the unmanaged treatment (U). During the final 7 years of the study, combined cutting and grazing promoted Taraxacum cover more than that of grazing only (ICG > IG > ECG > EG). Cover of Taraxacum was negatively affected by increasing sward height where Taraxacum plants had lower fitness. Due to the relatively strong relationship between percentage cover of Taraxacum and its dry-matter biomass, percentage cover could be used as a simple method for the assessment of biomass of Taraxacum in a sward. Results are discussed in the context of adapting the management of A. capillaris grassland as a simple method for control of Taraxacum abundance, particularly in situations of extensification or abandonment.

Mulching is a type of grassland management in which clippings are crushed into short lengths and left to decompose on the sward surface. This low-cost method has been widely used in the Czech Republic since 1990 to maintain grassland without agricultural utilization. Several studies have examined the effects of mulching on vegetation, but none have focused on nutrients in the soil and herbage. We hypothesized that mulching supports nutrient turnover because of easy decomposition of the mulched biomass. We analysed data from a manipulative experiment in an upland grassland established in 2000 with the following treatments: unmanaged control (U); two cuts per year with biomass removal in June and August (2C); mulching once per year in July (1M); mulching twice per year in June and August (2M); and mulching three times per year in May, July and September (3M). Based on RDA analysis, there were three groups of treatments with a similar response of soil and herbage chemical properties: (i) U; (ii) 2C (iii) 1M, 2M, 3M. After eleven years of the experiment the mulching regimes had not produced any substantial changes in soil and herbage nutrient concentrations in comparison with the unmanaged or/and cut treatments. However, under all mulching treatments there was a tendency for extractable soil P and K concentrations together with P and K concentrations in the herbage to be higher than under treatment 2C and lower than under treatment U. Herbage biomass production in the 2M treatment was significantly higher than in the 2C treatment. Plant species richness was significantly affected by applied treatment (2C > 3M, 2M > 1M, U). Mulching performed two or three times per year can substitute for a conventional cutting regime over eleven years without substantial changes in the soil nutrient properties although a decrease in plant species diversity was observed.

Patchiness is one of the important features of grazed temperate grasslands, but little is known about the structure of sward height patches under different grazing intensities. The present study examined the effect of continuous intensive and extensive stocking of heifers on the proportions of sward-height patch categories (short ≤ 5cm, moderate 5.5–10 cm, tall ≥ 10.5 cm) and their plant species composition in an Agrostis capillaris grassland. A four-year study was performed on an upland grassland maintained under a long-term grazing experiment in the Jizerske hory Mts (Jizera Mountains), Czech Republic. The contrasting stocking densities form the differences in the proportion of sward-patch categories and generated a similar level of patch heterogeneity, which was mainly affected by the proportion of tall- and short-sward patches. The floristic composition of patches within the same sward height category depended upon stocking density. Moderate and tall patches under a given stocking density had similar botanical composition. Vegetation within short patches differed considerably from that of other patches under extensive grazing whereas under intensive grazing the differences between short, moderate and tall sward-height patches were small. The findings show that grazing intensity is a key driver of the proportion as well as the floristic composition of sward-height patches in grasslands dominated by A. capillaris. These findings have implications for nature conservation, as they support the recommendation for extensive management of upland grasslands.

Rumex obtusifolius is a troublesome weed especially in organically managed grasslands. Manual weeding is commonly used for R. obtusifolius control, but its effectiveness and effect on plant species composition in upland grassland has never been investigated. Therefore the aim of our study was to reveal the effect of manual weeding by digging out R. obtusifolius taproots to depths of 5 or 15 cm, either once or twice, in: (i) presence of R. obtusifolius plants; (ii) plant species composition. Additional treatments were grazed and unmanaged grassland (both without digging out R. obtusifolius taproot). Digging out taproots twice, to 15 cm, reduced the presence of R. obtusifolius significantly. Grazing without digging out taproots was the treatment that was most favourable for R. obtusifolius plants. Manual weeding had no significant effect on species richness. The empty spaces after plant removal were filled by nutrient-demanding species (Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens and Taraxacum sp.). On unmanaged grassland the number of R. obtusifolius plants decreased, species richness was reduced, but this allowed the spread of other tall weedy species (Urtica dioica, Galium album and Elytrigia repens). Digging out taproots to a depth of 15 cm, performed twice, can be an effective method for R. obtusifolius control in organically managed grasslands, as this procedure eliminated the majority of R. obtusifolius plants. However, the use of this weeding method over large areas of grassland is limited due to time-consuming and hard physical work.

Geoglossum simile is a distinctive species of the earth tongue class Geoglossomycetes, first described in 1873. The taxonomic standing of this species has long been disputed, resulting in nearly 70 years of potential misdiagnoses. Although G. simile was original- ly described from North America, it has subsequently been reported from several European countries as well as Asia, Australasia, and India. In this study, we report the first records of G. simile from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, examine the morphological and molec- ular diversity of Northern Hemisphere collections, dis- cuss the taxonomic history and current status of the species, and designate a recent North American collec- tion as the epitype of this widely distributed and conservationally significant species.

Little is known about the effects of either long-term cutting with herbage removal or no management on the nutritional status of Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra meadows. We asked how management affected soil and herbage chemical properties, herbage yield and sward height. The experiment with cutting (C) and unmanaged (U) treatments was undertaken from 1999 to 2009 in the Jizera Mts., Czech Republic. Soil and herbage samples were taken from 2003 to 2009. Potassium was the only nutrient for which the soil concentration decreased under the C treatment. Soil K concentration was 175 and 210 mg kg −1 in the C and U treatments, respectively, in the last year of the experiment. Herbage yield as well as sward height were significantly higher in the unmanaged than in the cutting treatment in all years. Concentrations of P and K in the herbage biomass were lower in the cutting than in the unmanaged treatment, but concentrations of N were lower only in some years. Concentrations of Ca and Mg were not affected by the different treatments. A strong positive relationship between concentration in soil and herbage was recorded only for K. In contrast to K, ten years of contrasting management was too short a period to affect plant-available (Mehlich III) P, Ca and Mg concentrations, but it was long enough to affect herbage chemical properties and yield.

In the Czech Republic, the number of cattle has decreased by about 60% between the years 1990 and 2010 and one major question is therefore, how to manage mountain grasslands with reduced livestock and demand for forage. One possible alternative is low-cost mulching, which is defined as the crushing of aboveground biomass, which is then evenly spread onto the ground. In view of a lack of data on the effects of mulching, we established an experiment with different cutting and mulching regimes on mountain Festuca rubra grassland in 1997 and monitored plant species composition over twelve years. Treatments with a similar response of plant species composition were (i) unmanaged control and grassland mulched once a year in September; (ii) grassland mulched once a year in May and in July; (iii) grassland mulched twice a year in June and August and grassland mulched three times a year in May, July and September; (iv) grassland cut twice a year with biomass removal in June and August. We concluded that mulching performed at least twice a year can substitute for cutting management in low productive grassland, without substantial loss of plant species richness and diversity. Mulching only in September affected plant species composition of the grassland in a similar way to no management, therefore, mulching performed only in September can be used only for prevention of grassland encroachment by shrubs and trees. The majority of changes in plant species composition developed during the first five years, thus, experiments to study the effects of management on grasslands must be performed for at least this length.

Summary Rumex species are important weeds in grasslands and on arable land. The Rumex hybrid (R. patienta × R. tianschanicus; cv. OK-2, Uteusha) has been planted as a forage and energy crop since 2001 in the Czech Republic, but its ecological requirements and its potential to become a new weedy species have never been investigated. In 2010 and 2011, we performed a pot experiment to investigate the effect of none, one and two cuts per year on biomass production of Rumex OK-2 and common broad-leaved Rumex species (Rumex obtusifolius, R. crispus and R. alpinus). The higher cutting frequency can reduce the belowground biomass, but no effect on the aboveground biomass was detected. Flowering in the seeding year was recorded in only 50% of R. obtusifolius plants. Non-flowering R. obtusifolius plants produced significantly more belowground biomass than flowering plants under no cutting or one cut treatments. The growth response of Rumex OK-2 to different cutting treatments was very similar to R. crispus. These similarities indicate the weed potential of the hybrid to become a troublesome weedy species, similar to R. crispus.

During a field excursions in the Jizerske hory Mts. in 2010 and 2011, we found an interesting taxon of the genus Geoglossum. It was later identified as Geoglossum uliginosum Hakelier and is characterised by almost black fruitbodies, a viscid stipe becoming shiny after drying, and specific paraphyses. Its characteristic habitats are peat bogs or wet meadows with Molinia caerulea, Carex spec. div., Deschampsia cespitosa and/or Nardus stricta, always overgrown with Sphagnum sp.

Little is known about the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application on soil chemical properties and plant species composition of mountain Festuca rubra grasslands. In this study, we aimed to determine whether fertiliser application affects plant species composition and soil properties during periods of management, and whether residual after-effects of fertiliser application can be detected eight years after its use is abandoned. The experiment with unfertilised control, PK treatment and treatments with low and higher level of NPK application under three (intensive management from 1993 to 1997) and two cut management (moderate management from 1997 to 1999) was established in the Jizera Mts. (Czech Republic) on F. rubra meadow and then the experiment was eight years abandoned. Immediately after the introduction of intensive management, a decrease in species richness and diversification of plant species composition occurred. Plant communities which had diversified in different fertiliser treatments persisted under moderately intensive management. The cover of Alopecurus pratensis increased to >50% while the cover of Agrostis capillaris decreased to

The aim of this study was to identify changes in the plant species richness, diversity and composition of a mountain hay meadow (alliance Polygono bistortae-Trisetion flavescentis) after abandonment in comparison with a control cut once per year. The experiment was carried out from 1999 to 2008 in a mountain hay meadow in the Bukovec nature reserve in the north-eastern part of the Jizera Mountains (Jizerske hory, Gory Izerskie, Isergebirge), Czech Republic. The number of vascular plants species with cover greater than or equal to 1% remained almost the same throughout the study period; however, the total number of vascular plants was higher in the cut treatment after the first four years of the study. The cover of Festuca rubra, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media and Trifolium repens was positively affected by cutting. On the other hand, the cover of Cirsium heterophyllum, Geranium sylvaticum, Hypericum maculatum, Trisetum flavescens and Luzula luzuloides was higher on the abandoned treatment plots. The main effect of the abandonment on plant species composition was the shift in cover of the dominant species. Despite ten years of contrasting management, changes in the vegetation were relatively small with no shift to a different plant community. Therefore the cutting regime combined with several years of no management may be a suitable management strategy for the maintenance of Polygono-Trisetion grasslands and will not be detrimental to the preservation of the target vegetation.

Question: How are plant species and functional group composition, and potential sward height affected by implementation of different grazing regimes on previously abandoned semi-natural grassland? Location: The Jizerske mountains, northern Czech Republic. Methods: We established a randomized block experiment with the following treatments: unmanaged control (U), intensive (IG) and extensive (EG) continuous grazing, first cut followed by intensive (ICG) and first cut followed by extensive (ECG) continuous grazing for the rest of the growing season. The percentage cover of all vascular plant species was recorded in 40 permanent plots. Results: Total plant species richness increased in all managed treatments, whereas species number was reduced in U at the end of the experiment. Tall forbs (Aegopodium podagraria, Galium album, Anthriscus sylvestris, Cirsium arvense) as well as tall grasses (Elytrigia repens and Alopecurus pratensis) were more abundant in U. Species associated with both grazing treatme...

The effects of different grazing intensities of heifers on sward parameters such as sward structure, plant species diversity, herbage growth and forage quality as well as individual live-weight gains and live-weight gains per pasture area were studied in an upland area in the northern part of the Czech Republic over 4 years (1998–2001). The sward was maintained at a target height of 5 and 10 cm under intensive (IG) and extensive (EG) grazing, respectively. The total biomass production was higher under the IG than the EG treatment. In the Czech upland conditions, double peak curves of biomass growth during the grazing season were more typical than curves with one high spring peak. Species that responded positively to both treatments were the predominately short growing Trifolium repens, Taraxacum spp., Veronica arvensis and Agrostis capillaris. Tall species like Senecio ovatus, Alopecurus pratensis, Elytrigia repens and Aegopodium podagraria were associated with unmanaged plots. Total crude protein contents and forage digestibility were higher under IG. The content of crude fibre showed a reverse effect. Seasonal live-weight output per hectare under IG was approximately 1.5 times higher than EG treatment. However, if state subsidies are included, EG can be more profitable under the current Czech conditions than IG and satisfies both farmers and nature conservation objectives.

Changes in plant density were evaluated monthly in the first three vegetation seasons after imposing different grazing management treatments on abandoned semi-natural grassland in the Czech Republic. There was no agricultural management in the 5 years before the start of the experiment in 1998. A completely randomized block experiment was established with the following five treatments: unmanaged control, intensive continuous grazing, extensive continuous grazing and a harvest in June followed by either intensive or extensive continuous grazing for the rest of the growing season. The sward was maintained at a target height of 5 and 10 cm under the intensive and extensive grazing managements respectively. An almost immediate increase in the densities of all sward components, especially grass tillers, occurred after the introduction of grazing on the previously abandoned grassland in comparison with the unmanaged control treatment. Trifolium repens was able to colonize and increase the number of its stolon growing-points in all managed treatments, particularly in intensively grazed patches during the second and third experimental seasons. Delay to defoliation in both treatments containing a harvest in June resulted in an increase in the number of forb plants, particularly in the number of Taraxacum spp. plants, most probably due to an enabling of its seed production. It is evident that increases in plant density as a function of intensive defoliation are not restricted to the frequently documented effect on grass tillers but also can occur in many legume and forb species in species-rich grasslands.

The effect of different cuing and mulching regimes on the structure of the sward and plant species diversity of se - mi-natural meadow (Arrhenatherion alliance) was investigated in manipulative experiment over five years. Mulching once a year in September (MS) and plots without management (U) developed in the same way and resulted in increa- se of Veronica chamaedrys and Galium album and disappearance of light sensitive Trifolium repens. T. repens increased in two cut, two cut without removal of the biomass and in three times mulched treatments. The lowest species diversity was recorded under MS and U treatments on the end of the experiment. Mulching once a year in July altered the vegetation in a different way than the MS treatment. Our results indicate high importance of term of mulching and frequency of defoliation management on the development of grassland vegetation.

The effect of different grazing regimes on pasture vegetation was studied during the intensive grazing of heifers in the Jizerske hory mountains during 1993–1997. The vegetation was monitored in 3 pairs of permanent 1×1 m plots using a continuous grid of nine 0.33 × 0.33 m subplots. We applied continuous stocking and rotational grazing. Vegetation varied as a result of time and differences between treatments. Several prostrate dicotyledonous species (Trifolium repens, Taraxacum sp.,Bellis perennis andLeontodon autumnalis) increased under continuous stocking. This treatment also promoted the growth of the perennial grassLolium perenne, which was able to cope with frequent defoliation. Tall grasses sensitive to frequent defoliation (Poa trivialis, Holcus mollis, Alopecurus pratensis, Dactylis glomerata andElytrigia repens) were more abundant in rotationally grazed paddocks. Species diversity was not significantly influenced by the different grazing systems. The decrease in the potential sward height under continuous stocking revealed the replacing of tall dominants by lower species. Our results indicate that different grazing systems alter the composition and structure of grassland vegetation. Defining the intensity of grazing under continuous stocking or rotational grazing is complex due to the different stocking rates and the heights of sward during a grazing season. Information about pasture management should therefore involve not only grazing intensity but also the grazing system used.

Studies in Microglossum viride (Pers.) Gillet revealed that the name was used incorrectly for two similar but different taxa. Analyses of morphological, ecological and molecular (sequences of ITS and LSU region of rRNA gene) characters of type and voucher specimens of M. viride and related taxa resulted in delimitation and description of a new species, Micro- glossum griseoviride V. Kucera, Lizon ˇ & M. Tomsovsky ´. Lectotypes of Geoglossum viride Pers., and epitype of Geoglossum viride are designated. Species Microglossum minus Velen. and Microglossum lutescens Boud. are confirmed to be conspecific to M. viride.

The origin of Nardus stricta dominated subalpine grassland (Nardo-Caricion rigidae alliance) is a frequently discussed topic in the Giant Mountains (Karkonosze in the Czech Republic). Many researchers considered them, as secondary stands arisen after Pinus mugo removal and by consequent oligotrophization of original plant communities, caused by long-term rough grazing and hay making activities without manuring. On the contrary, they are recognized as natural due to inability of generative reproduction of N. stricta and the very slow vegetative spread there. The aim of this study was to find proofs for generative reproduction of mat grass in subalpine conditions of the Giant Mountains. We identified a Pinus mugo nursery with arable land abandoned in 1956 and compared its vegetation with that of the surrounding area. Dense and homogenous sward dominated by N. stricta developed during the succession on the old arable land for 48 years, and it is an indisputable proof of generative reproduction of N. stricta there. Synthesizing historical facts on human activities in the past and the results of our contemporary vegetation analysis, we conclude that the Nardo-Caricion rigidae grassland was capable to spread relatively quickly, when agricultural activities above the upper timber line were introduced.

Nitrogen deposition is generally considered as a main reason for many recent plant expansions, but management changes are often not taken into account. Understanding the effects of agriculture management in the past can be decisive in the explanation of plant expansions at present. In order to understand the spread of Molinia caerulea and Calamagrostis villosa into Nardus stricta dominated subalpine grassland in the Giant Mts. (Krkonoše, Karkonosze), we undertook an experiment to explain farmer decision making and we discussed its effect on grassland succession. We measured mowing productivity, yields, biomass quality and nutrient removal in N. stricta, M. caerulea, and C. villosa dominated swards. With regard to defoliation management performed on the subalpine grasslands for at least 500 years and cancelled after the Second World War, we found the following results and conclusions. 1. Mowing productivity, yield and forage quality were lowest in the N. stricta sward, therefore farmers preferred to harvest C. villosa and M. caerulea stands if they had the possibility to select a sward for mowing. 2. Removal of all nutrients was the lowest in the N. stricta sward. With respect to these facts, the competitive advantage of N. stricta is obvious under long-term scything without fertilization. Consequently, the recent increase of defoliation sensitive species M. caerulea and C. villosa above the timber line must be evaluated with respect to both: termination of agricultural activities and recent nitrogen deposition.