早春和夏季氮磷添加对内蒙古典型草原退化群落碳交换的影响

过度放牧导致的养分“入不敷出”是我国天然草地大面积退化的主要原因之一, 而草地退化又显著影响了草原生态系统的固碳功能。能否通过补充土壤养分来恢复退化草地的固碳功能, 迄今相关研究较少。净生态系统碳交换(NEE)、生态系统呼吸(ER)和生态系统总初级生产力(GEP)是表征生态系统碳循环的重要指标。氮(N)和磷(P)是中国典型草原的主要限制性养分元素, 而草地退化进一步加剧了养分的限制。在退化草地上添加氮磷对碳循环的上述过程(NEE、ER和GEP)有何影响, 以及两种养分之间是否存在互作, 目前尚不清楚。为此, 该研究以内蒙古典型草原的退化草地为研究对象, 选择早春融雪期(4月)和夏季生长期(7月)两个时间节点, 设置不施肥(CK)、N添加(10.5 g·m^-2·a^-1, NH₄NO₃)、P添加(7 g·m^-2·a^-1, KH₂PO₄)和N、P共同添加((10.5 g N + 7 g P)·m^-2·a^-1) 4个养分处理, 探究早春和夏季氮磷添加对内蒙古典型草原退化群落碳交换的影响及其互作机制。结果表明: 1)在早春和夏季两个时期, 单独添加N或P对生态系统碳交换过程的影响均未达到显著水平, 而氮磷共同添加可显著提高NEE和GEP。2)早春(4月份)氮磷共同添加对NEE、ER和GEP的互作机制表现为正协同效应, 而夏季(7月份)氮磷共同添加对NEE、ER和GEP的互作机制表现为加性效应。为了恢复退化的典型草原的固碳功能, 氮磷共同添加比单一元素添加效果好, 且早春添加优于夏季添加。该研究对指导退化草地的恢复具有参考价值。     

氮素添加和刈割对内蒙古弃耕草地土壤氮矿化的影响

以内蒙古多伦县恢复生态学试验示范研究站弃耕10余年的草地为研究对象,于2006年起分别设置对照、氮素添加、刈割和氮素添加+刈割4种处理,每种处理6次重复,研究弃耕草地氮素添加和刈割对土壤氮矿化的影响,结合土壤理化性质和植被地上生产力的动态变化,分析弃耕草地土壤氮矿化对植被恢复的响应,为当地草地恢复与重建提供理论依据和数据支持。实验结果表明:1氮素添加显著增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP)和土壤无机氮库,与对照相比分别提高115%和196%,同时显著提高了土壤总硝化速率;但是氮素添加对总氨化速率、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、微生物呼吸(MR)以及呼吸熵(q CO2)均无显著影响;2总氨化速率和硝化速率对刈割处理的响应均不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了土壤MR(P0.05);3氮素添加+刈割处理5—7a后,土壤总氨化和硝化速率均无显著变化;但是氮素添加+刈割处理显著增加了ANPP、土壤无机氮库和q CO2,同时显著降低了MBC和MBC/MBN。这说明在弃耕草地适应性管理中,氮素添加可以显著提高草地生产力,但是长期的氮添加对土壤微生物氮的转化是否有利还值得我们进一步研究。     

沙化草地恢复过程中土壤有机碳物理组分和全氮含量的变化

以宁夏中北部盐池县不同恢复阶段的沙化草地(流动沙地、半固定沙地、固定沙地和荒漠草地)土壤为研究对象,分析土壤粗砂粒有机碳、细砂粒有机碳、粘粉粒有机碳、重组有机碳、轻组有机碳和土壤全氮的变异特征,探讨沙化草地恢复过程中土壤有机碳变化机制。结果显示:(1)荒漠草地、固定沙地、半固定沙地0~30cm土层土壤,粗砂粒有机碳、细砂粒有机碳和粘粉粒有机碳含量分别比流动沙地增加了67.7%、69.8%、212.1%和48.8%、35.3%、99.9%以及33.6%、23.0%、48.9%。(2)随着沙化草地不同程度的恢复,轻组有机碳含量、分配比例和重组有机碳含量均表现为流动沙地半固定沙地固定沙地荒漠草地;重组有机碳分配比例随沙化草地恢复程度的升高呈降低趋势。(3)土壤细砂粒、粘粉粒、重组有机碳、轻组有机碳、粗砂粒有机碳、细砂粒有机碳、粘粉粒有机碳含量与土壤有机碳、土壤全氮含量均呈显著正相关关系,与粗砂粒含量均呈显著负相关关系。研究表明,轻组有机碳和粘粉粒有机碳含量对土壤有机碳的影响最大,轻组有机碳、重组有机碳、粗砂粒有机碳和粘粉粒有机碳对土壤全氮的影响最大,表明沙化草地的恢复有利于减小土壤侵蚀,改善土壤结构与质量。     

黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落生物量及根冠比对氮添加的响应

大气氮沉降增加作为全球变化的主要环境问题之一,已引发人们的广泛关注,持续的氮沉降对草地生态系统的组成、结构和功能产生重要影响。为深入了解草地恢复进程中群落生物量和根冠比对氮沉降的响应,以黄土区3个不同恢复年限（初期12a、中期28a和后期37a）的天然草地为研究对象,通过设置6个氮添加水平,CK （0）、N1（2.34g m^-2a^-1）、N2（4.67g m^-2a^-1）、N3（9.34g m^-2a^-1）、N4（18.68g m^-2a^-1）、N5（37.35g m^-2a^-1）来测定草地群落地上生物量、地下生物量和总生物量,并计算根冠比和氮响应效率（NRE）。结果表明：（1）地上生物量在恢复中期最大,随氮添加梯度增加,地上生物量在恢复初期和恢复后期呈不显著上升趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的正响应（ΔNRE>0）,在恢复中期呈不显著下降趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的负响应（ΔNRE<0）。（2）群落地下生物量对氮添加无显著响应,总生物量只有在恢复后期的N4添加水平下,与对照存在显著差异。（3）根冠比在恢复初期时,N3添加水平下显著高于对照和其他氮添加水平,其余恢复年限对氮添加无显著响应。综上所述,通过分析比较黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落的地上、地下及总生物量和根冠比对氮添加的响应。建议对该区域开展试点实验,实行适应性草地管理,如进行两年一次刈割或轻度放牧（2只羊/hm²）,来探寻更科学有效的管理措施,使草地实现系统性恢复,进而满足生态系统容量和社会需求的变化。     

短期氮、水添加对放牧背景下荒漠草原短花针茅叶片属性的影响

叶片属性是反映植物对环境变化敏感程度的重要特征,可在一定程度上预测植物对放牧干扰后的恢复能力。短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）是内蒙古荒漠草原的主要建群种。在不同放牧强度背景下的短花针茅草原开展了围封模拟放牧持续利用的实验,同时进行添加氮素和水分的恢复措施,测定了7月和9月中旬建群种短花针茅叶片的比叶面积、叶干物质含量,以及叶片全氮、叶片全磷和叶片全碳含量,分析水分和氮素添加对建群种短花针茅叶片的影响,探讨不同放牧强度下短花针茅可持续利用的氮水调控机制。结果显示,氮素和水分添加显著地增加了短花针茅叶片氮含量,降低了叶片碳氮比;放牧强度也显著地增加了叶片氮含量,且轻度放牧下的叶片氮含量（20.36 g/kg）显著高于对照（18.80 g/kg）;生长末期短花针茅的比叶面积、叶片碳含量、叶片碳氮比和叶片碳磷比显著高于生长盛期,叶片氮含量和磷含量显著低于生长盛期;在生长盛期和生长末期,不同放牧强度背景下对短花针茅所采取的氮素和水分的供给措施也不同。研究结果表明在放牧背景下短期氮、水添加提高了短花针茅的叶片氮含量,特别是在生长季后期水分添加增加了叶片氮和磷含量,可进一步促进短花针茅的生长。我们的结果也表明了资源供给水平的改善有助于短花针茅的迅速恢复。     

黄土丘陵区恢复草地土壤团聚体组成及全氮分布特征

团聚体作为土壤基本结构单元,其各粒级全氮（TN）含量对土壤TN储量的贡献各不相同,而草地恢复过程中地上植被会影响土壤团聚体组成与各粒级TN的分布,这必然会对团聚体稳定性和土壤氮素累积产生影响。因此,以恢复10a、20a、30a、40a和50a草地和对照农田（CK）为研究对象,探究草地恢复过程中土壤团聚体氮素累积规律。结果表明：1）50年恢复过程中草地群落经历了茵陈蒿（Artemisia capillaries）→茵陈蒿+铁杆蒿（Artemisia stechmanniana）→铁杆蒿+兴安胡枝子（Lespedeza davurica）→铁杆蒿+本氏针茅（Stipa bungeanaTrin）→铁杆蒿+白羊草（Bothriochloa ischaemum）的演替过程,且草地群落物种多样性指数随恢复年限的增加呈先升后降的趋势,地上植物、细根和凋落物的碳和氮含量呈先上升后下降趋势。2）草地恢复过程中土壤pH和容重呈下降趋势,而土壤含水量呈先降后增趋势,土壤有机碳含量在恢复过程中显著增加（P<0.05）,土壤TN含量随恢复年限呈先增后降的趋势,而TN储量呈逐年增加趋势,恢复10-50a草地与CK相比增加了8.10%-118.92%。3）不同恢复年限草地群落土壤微团聚体（0.053-0.25 mm）占比最大,但随恢复年限增加呈下降趋势,而大团聚体（>2 mm）和中团聚体（0.25-2 mm）占比以及平均重量直径（MWD）和几何平均直径（GMD）呈上升趋势。4）不同恢复年限草地群落中团聚体TN含量最高,且各粒级团聚体TN含量随恢复年限呈先下降后上升趋势;草地群落微团聚体TN储量最高,大、中团聚体TN储量随恢复年限增加呈上升趋势,微、粘粉粒团聚体（<0.053 mm） TN储量随恢复年限增加出现波动;各粒级团聚体TN储量与地上植物、细根和凋落物生物量以及碳氮含量显著相关（P<0.05）。5）草地恢复过程中大团聚体对土壤TN储量的贡献率达70%,且大团聚体占比增加是大团聚体贡献率高的主要原因。总之,草地恢复有利于土壤稳定以及氮素累积。     

Soil Nitrogen Conditions Approach Preinvasion Levels following Restoration of Nitrogen-Fixing Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Stands in a Pine–Oak Ecosystem

Restoring native plant communities on sites formerly occupied by invasive nitrogen‐fixing species poses unique problems due to elevated soil nitrogen availability. Mitigation practices that reduce available nitrogen may ameliorate this problem. We evaluated the effects of tree removal followed by soil preparation or mulching on native plant growth and soil nitrogen transformations in a pine–oak system formerly occupied by exotic nitrogen‐fixing Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees. Greenhouse growth experiments with native grasses, Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans, showed elevated relative growth rates in soils from Black locust compared with pine–oak stands. Field soil nutrient concentrations and rates of net nitrification and total net N‐mineralization were compared 2 and 4 years since Black locust removal and in control sites. Although soil nitrogen concentrations and total net N‐mineralization rates in the restored sites were reduced to levels that were similar to paired pine–oak stands after only 2 years, net nitrification rates remained 3–34 times higher in the restored sites. Other nutrient ion concentrations (Ca, Mg) and organic matter content were reduced, whereas phosphorus levels remained elevated in restored sites. Thus, 2–4 years following Black locust tree removal and soil horizon mixing achieved through site preparation, the concentrations of many soil nutrients returned to preinvasion levels. However, net nitrification rates remained elevated; cover cropping or carbon addition during restoration of sites invaded by nitrogen fixers could increase nitrogen immobilization and/or reduce nitrate availability, making sites more amenable to native plant establishment.     

An Investigation into the Effect of Soil and Vegetation on the Successful Creation of a Hay Meadow on a Clay‐Capped Landfill

This paper investigates the effect that manipulation of soil and vegetation conditions has on plant community development during attempts to create neutral hay meadow communities on a clay‐capped landfill in Somerset, United Kingdom. The objectives are (1) to determine the effect of manipulation of soil and vegetation on the development of the target plant community, (2) to identify whether these treatments had an effect on edaphic factors (physical and chemical properties, earthworm populations), and (3) to establish which, if any, of these edaphic parameters are underlying factors in determining the vascular plant community composition. In 2001 a commercial hay meadow seed mix was sown on three substrate treatments: (i) bare clay, (ii) a mixture of topsoil and compost ameliorant in equal proportions, and (iii) over naturally colonized vegetation. Plant community development and edaphic factors were monitored between 2001 and 2007. Although initially the presence of ameliorant promoted germination and growth of seeded species, after 2004 nonseeded competitive grasses dominated the sward. Where ameliorant was removed the target community continued to develop proving this to be the most successful treatment. This was found to be a due to suppression of competition from Elytrigia repens (Common couch), which grew most abundantly on soils with high organic matter and high soil water levels within the soil. Contrary to previous research, Trifolium repens (white clover) was not found to reduce forb diversity in this study. No evidence was found of earthworm abundance affecting plant community development.     

草地退化恢复评估方法述评

世界范围内草地生态系统的大面积退化严重影响了其生产和生态功能,因此对退化草地进行恢复成为世界范围内的持久不衰的研究热点,同时针对恢复实践效果的评估方法也在逐渐地发展和完善。在退化草地恢复进程中及时准确地评估恢复的效果有利于指导今后的恢复实践。研究概述了退化草地恢复的措施和恢复目标,对退化草地恢复的评估方法从不同的组织尺度上进行综述。研究中大多采取指示物种、植物群落的多样性和群落结构、活力-组织-恢复力(VOR)及其改良模型以及一系列数学分析方法等来评价退化草地的恢复状况。通过述评这些方法的应用和效果可以为未来的退化草地恢复实践的实施、恢复效果的科学评估以及后续的草地管理提供理论基础。     

内蒙古典型草原地带退化草原的恢复动态

对退化草原自然恢复演替过程的监测,是认识其恢复过程、机理、探讨恢复的限制因子和进一步制定快速、低投入生态恢复措施的基础。通过对内蒙古典型草原地带退化草原［星毛委陵菜（Potentila acaulis）、冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）和寸草苔（Carex duriuscula）等为主］封育恢复动态 8年的监测表明：在退化草原群落自然恢复过程中,植物高度上升;植被盖度和生物量先增加,尔后基本稳定,或略有下降的趋势。群落的物种丰富度增加微弱,这可能与该区草原植物和野生动物协同进化有关,同时与数千年的家畜放牧史有关。即植物物种对放牧有较大的耐性,停止放牧,物种的丰富度也增加较少;群落结构的变化主要表现在不同种群优势度的消长上。群落均匀度指数的动态过程分析表明,恢复8年的草原群落尚未达到天然草原状态,尚需进一步的监测研究。     

Restoring Brazilian savanna ground layer vegetation by topsoil and hay transfer

Tropical grassy biomes have been widely neglected for conservation and, after unplanned land use conversion, ecological restoration becomes urgent. The majority of interventions have been based on the misapplication of forest restoration techniques, because there are no validated techniques to restore the species‐rich ground layer. In search for innovative techniques to restore the herbaceous layer of the cerrado vegetation, we carried out an experiment based upon topsoil and hay transfer, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The restoration treatments were: (1) transfer of topsoil collected at the end of the dry season; (2) topsoil collected at the end of the rainy season; (3) transfer of hay collected at the end of the dry season; (4) topsoil + hay collected at the end of the dry season; and (5) control. We used an old‐growth grassland as source of material and as reference ecosystem to assess the efficacy of the restoration techniques applied to an area severely degraded after invasion by African grasses. After 211 days, hay transfer apparently inhibited germination and did not contribute to grassland vegetation recovery. Topsoil transfer, however, was effective at reintroducing herbaceous plants, including target species. The season of topsoil collection mattered: material collected at the end of the rainy season provided better results in terms of density and richness of the restored community than that from the dry season. The remaining challenge is to find sources of topsoil not invaded by exotic grasses in large enough amounts to support restoration initiatives without jeopardizing the source ecosystems.     

Restoring grassy ecosystems – Feasible or fiction? An inquisitive Australian's experience in the USA

Many small‐scale projects in Australia suggest that ground‐layer elements of ecosystems can be restored, but scaling up of grassland and grassy understorey restoration has not occurred to date. Paul Gibson‐Roy recently travelled through the USA, where well‐developed markets for restoration have created a large, financially viable native‐herbaceous seed production and restoration sector. Here, he shares his observations, which show how much about the USA situation can be a model and inspiration for Australian grassy ecosystem restoration.     

Abundance,territory sizes,and pairing success of male Henslow's Sparrows in restored warm‐ and cool‐season grasslands

Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) are known to breed in restored grasslands consisting of either warm‐ or cool‐season grasses, but additional information is needed concerning their breeding biology in these two types of grasslands. We compared the abundance, territory sizes, and pairing success of male Henslow's Sparrows in grasslands in west‐central Missouri in 2010 and 2011 using a paired‐treatment design, where warm‐ and cool‐season grasslands were located in close proximity. Selection indices indicated no apparent preference by male Henslow's Sparrows for either type of grassland, and the territory sizes and pairing success of males in cool‐ and warm‐season grasslands did not differ. In addition, we found no significant differences in habitat structure between these grassland types. Thus, our results suggest that the warm‐ and cool‐season grasslands in our study provided suitable habitat for Henslow's Sparrows. Other investigators have drawn similar conclusions for Henslow's Sparrows and for grassland birds in general, with the structural characteristics and, for some species, the size of grasslands being more important for grassland birds than plant species composition.     

Responses of soil respiration to soil management changes in an agropastoral ecotone in Inner Mongolia,China

Studying the responses of soil respiration (R_s) to soil management changes is critical for enhancing our understanding of the global carbon cycle and has practical implications for grassland management. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) quantify daily and seasonal patterns of R_s, (2) evaluate the influence of abiotic factors on R_s, and (3) detect the effects of soil management changes on R_s. We hypothesized that (1) most of daily and seasonal variation in R_s could be explained by soil temperature (T_s) and soil water content (S_w), (2) soil management changes could significantly affect R_s, and (3) soil management changes affected R_s via the significant change in abiotic and biotic factors. In situ R_s values were monitored in an agropastoral ecotone in Inner Mongolia, China, during the growing seasons in 2009 (August to October) and 2010 (May to October). The soil management changes sequences included free grazing grassland (FG), cropland (CL), grazing enclosure grassland (GE), and abandoned cultivated grassland (AC). During the growing season in 2010, cumulative R_s for FG, CL, GE, and AC averaged 265.97, 344.74, 236.70, and 226.42 gC m^?2 year^?1, respectively. The T_s and S_w significantly influenced R_s and explained 66%–86% of the variability in daily R_s. Monthly mean temperature and precipitation explained 78%–96% of the variability in monthly R_s. The results clearly showed that R_s was increased by 29% with the conversion of FG to CL and decreased by 35% and 11% with the conversion of CL to AC and FG to GE. The factors impacting the change in R_s under different soil management changes sequences varied. Our results confirm the tested hypotheses. The increase in Q₁₀ and litter biomass induced by conversion of FG to GE could lead to increased R_s if the climate warming. We suggest that after proper natural restoration period, grasslands should be utilized properly to decrease R_s.     

伊犁河谷春秋草场草地生态调查及其恢复对策

针对新疆伊犁河谷春秋草场严重退化的现状,通过对退化草场、围栏封育并实施灌溉的草场、单纯围栏的草场和灌溉但不封牧草场样方的对比调查,从地表植物的生物量、植物种类、优质牧草所占比例和草地植物多样性指数等的变化规律和特征方面,探讨了伊犁河谷地区春秋草场退化的原因和恢复措施。结果表明:适当灌溉后草地生物量为1540.5g.m-2,远高于不灌溉的草地(生物量为188.13g.m-2),表明干旱是本区草地植被生长一个重要制约因素;而仅改变草地的水分条件,在超载率达123%的大环境下,草场中优质牧草的比例由封育的62.38%下降到未封育的2.08%。因此,适度放牧并辅以灌溉措施是本区天然草场恢复的2个必要条件。     

Restoration prioritization for industrial area applying multiple potential natural vegetation modeling

Scaling‐up ecological restoration demands the involvement of private sector actors. Experience regarding science‐based habitat restoration programs in the sector should be made available to support further joint projects. In our case, hierarchical restoration prioritization was applied to select best target for habitat reconstruction at a Hungarian industrial area. Multiple potential natural vegetation model, a novel approach, supported restoration prioritization satisfying both ecological (sustainability and nature conservation value) and other needs (feasibility, rapid green surface, amenity, and education value). The target that met all priorities was the open steppe forest that has a mosaic arrangement with open and closed sand steppes. The potential area of this xero‐thermophile oak wood is expected to expand in Hungary with climate change, therefore the selected target has a likelihood of long‐term sustainability, if established. A matrix of sand steppes was created first at the factory area in 2014–2015, and tree and shrub saplings were planted in this matrix. The seeding induced rapid changes in vegetation composition: the second year samples became close to reference sand steppes in the principal component analysis ordination space. Tree and shrub survival was species dependent, reaching a maximum of 52 and 73% for tree and shrub species, respectively. One tree and 2 shrub species did not survive at all. Altogether 53 of 107 target species have established. So far, restored vegetation development confirmed the suitability of the applied hierarchical prioritization framework at factory scale.     

黄土丘陵区植被恢复对土壤可溶性氮组分的影响

为探究黄土丘陵地区人工植被恢复对土壤氮素养分累积与有效性的影响,研究分析了植被恢复15年刺槐、柠条、刺槐侧柏混交、刺槐山桃混交以及荒草地土壤可溶性氮组分含量及其垂直分布特征。结果表明,与耕地相比,植被恢复显著提高了0—30 cm土壤可溶性氮组分含量,这也使0—30 cm土壤可溶性氮组分密度显著增加,可溶性有机氮密度增幅表现为柠条(262.2%)刺槐(232.8%)刺槐山桃混交、刺槐侧柏混交(34.5%)荒草地(-21.5%),硝态氮密度整体表现为柠条刺槐刺槐山桃混交荒草地刺槐侧柏混交,增幅为7.9%—182.8%,铵态氮密度以刺槐山桃混交增幅最大(110.3%),荒草地最小为2.6%。可溶性有机氮、硝态氮占全氮的比例以刺槐最高,分别提升了2.4倍和0.6倍,铵态氮占全氮的比例以刺槐山桃混交最高,提升了1.0倍。可溶性氮组分受微生物量碳氮的影响大于有机质和全氮,微生物量氮与可溶性氮组分的相关性优于微生物量碳,硝态氮对土壤有机质、全氮和微生物量碳氮的变化最为敏感。综上,植被恢复能够提高土壤可溶性氮组分含量、密度及其占全氮比例,增加土壤氮的有效性,以刺槐、柠条提升效果最好。     

Reconstructing grassy understories in south‐eastern Australia: Interview with Paul Gibson‐Roy

A marriage of ecology with agronomy is proving successful in restoring diverse herbaceous layers ‐ to the extent that some reconstructed grasslands on ex‐agricultural land and rural roadsides have been found eligible for federal protection as threatened ecological communities. Can lessons from this improve our management and expansion of grassy ecosystems more broadly?     

Restoration of California Native Grasses and Clovers: The Roles of Clipping,Broadleaf Herbicide,and Native Grass Density

One of the major challenges confronting grassland restoration of highly invaded communities is increasing the diversity of native species. There is surprisingly little research investigating how reconstructed native grasslands respond to common management techniques and how these techniques influence the relative establishment of both native grasses and forbs. Despite the diversity and wide distribution of native clovers in California, few practitioners incorporate them into grassland restoration plans. Conversely, non‐native clovers have been seeded extensively onto California rangelands. This study addresses the following questions: (1) Using readily available management tools, is there a strategy that can benefit the growth of both planted native bunchgrasses and seeded clovers? (2) Do native bunchgrasses compete with establishing clovers and non‐native grasses? (3) Do native and non‐native clovers differ in their response to management treatments or in their productivity? Plots were established to test three factors in different combinations over 3 years: (1) early spring clipping, (2) initial broadleaf herbicide, and (3) native bunchgrass planting density. Native and non‐native clovers were seeded in years 2 and 3. Early spring clipping did not have a significant effect on native bunchgrass cover, yet it did result in greater growth of native and non‐native clovers. The direction of the response to broadleaf herbicide changed between years for native bunchgrasses and was consistently negative for native clovers. Plots with higher native grass densities did not adversely affect the seeded clovers, yet non‐native grass cover was reduced. Native and non‐native clovers exhibited similar responses to clipping and established at similar densities.