Effects of mowing and removing litter on reproductive shoot modules of some plant species in abandoned meadows of Monte San Giorgio

Abstract

Reproductive shoot modules have been counted in a permanent plot experiment on Monte San Giorgio (Southern Switzerland) since 1988. The 8 species presented here, including the dominant grass (Molinia arundinacea) and seven locally abundant species, two grasses (Danthonia alpina, Bromus erectus), a sedge (Carex flacca) and four forbs (Centaurea bracteata, Anthericum ramosum, Serratula tinctoria, Inula hirta) changed considerably from year to year. Mowing negatively affected cover and standing crop proportions of M. arundinacea and positively influenced the number of reproductive shoot modules of most species. Removing litter did not affect the cover of M. arundinacea but mainly increased its number of reproductive shoot modules. It is concluded that density of reproductive shoots is very sensitive to weather condi¬ tions and different treatments.