Nitrogen limitation reduces the performance of target plant species in restored meadows

Restoring habitats degraded by intensive agriculture is challenging, and the resulting communities often have lower quality host fewer species than reference ecosystems. To improve restoration outputs, we need to understand what limits both establishment performance of target in restored populations. In this study, focused on grassland with regional seeds compared two herbs, Betonica officinalis Centaurea jacea, between We also measured plant functional traits environmental characteristics which parameters affect population performance. Individual plants were smaller populations, indicates reduced Leaves from populations contained more ?15N and, Betonica, less nitrogen higher C:N ratio, suggests that may be limited nitrogen. Nitrogen limitation all was further corroborated low N:P ratio bulk biomass. Centaurea, recorded massive herbivory damage likely species' meadows. summary, showed conspecifics sites, probably due nutrient imbalance (low availability) excessive damage.