Species ecological strategy and soil phosphorus supply interactively affect plant biomass and phosphorus concentration

Excess soil phosphorus often constrains ecological restoration of degraded semi-natural grasslands in Western-Europe. Slow-growing species, target (measures), are at a disadvantage because they outcompeted by fast-growing species. Gaining insight into the responses plant species and communities to availability will help understanding trajectories grassland ecosystems. We set up two pot experiments using twenty with contrasting growth forms (i.e. grasses versus forbs) nutrient use strategies acquisitive conservative use). quantified strategy based on stress-tolerance value CSR framework (StrateFy et al. 2017). grew these (1) as monocultures (2) mixtures along gradient measured aboveground biomass concentrations. Plant concentration generally increased supply only communities. Forbs had higher concentrations compared both mixtures. The species’ effects tissue concentrations, depending (interaction effect) vegetation (dilution effect). Our findings contribute knowledge required for successful species-rich grasslands. results suggest that under specific conditions nitrogen limitation, no dispersal light limitation), slow-growing can survive even thrive excess availability. In field, competition may be reduced mowing or grazing management.