Effects of bioavailable phosphorus and soil biota on typical Nardus grassland species in competition with fast-growing plant species

The restoration of Nardus grasslands is often hampered by high bioavailability soil phosphorus and disturbed communities. In order to better understand these bottlenecks, we studied grassland species grown together in communities with fast-growing 50-liter pots along a gradient bioavailable or without inoculated biota. These mesocosms allowed the plants freely interact, including competition for light nutrients. We investigated changes plant community composition using Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN). found negative threshold 11.5 mg POlsen kg−1 six significant indicator species. Above threshold, small increase resulted disproportionally large drop biomass species, four typical decline ‘oligotrophic species’ was also linked increasing biomass, so suggest oligotrophic be outcompeted did not find an effect biota treatment on but observe positive inoculation total community. Interestingly, mesocosm experiment comparable upper concentrations remnant northern Belgium. For grasslands, such phosphorus-poor conditions appear essential, because that typically occur are able handle nutrient limitation, limitation.