Managing native grasslands – Data Collection
Protocol
| Soil preparation | Prepare 200 square metre area topped with weed free, low nutrient sub-soil of at least 30cm. |
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| Plot establishment | Establish 16 plots in a 4 by 4 layout. Each plot is 2 square metres. Plant native grass, Microlaena stipoides, to establish a border each plots. |
| Plot layout | Randomly assign 12 native flowering plants to 12 planting trays. |
| Plot preparation | Plant each plot with a matrix of native grasses, Themeda triandra and Danthonia caespitosa, and 12 native flowering plants. |
| Nutrient treatment | Hand broadcast 10 grams per metre of ammonium nitrate on plots A and B. Repeat the treatment every two months. Plots C and D receive no nutrients. |
| Mowing regime | Plots are clipped to a height of 50mm by hand to simulate mowing. All plants are harvested including the native grass bordering each plot. |
| Mowing treatment | For high frequency mowing (plots A and C), harvest once a year. For low frequency mowing (plots B and D), harvest once every two years. |
| Measuring dry weight | Separate each species of plant collected from each plot. Dry plants in oven at 80 degrees Celcius. Record dry weight in grams. |
Study log
| June, 1998 | All plots planted. |
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| September, 1998 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| November, 1998 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| January, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| February, 1999 | Plots A and C harvested. |
| March, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| May, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| July, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| September, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| November, 1999 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| January, 2000 | All plots harvested; Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| March, 2000 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| May, 2000 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| July, 2000 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| September, 2000 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| November, 2000 | Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
| January, 2001 | Plots A and C harvested; Nutrients applied to plots A and B. |
… study continues
Characteristics of the site
Click on the play button to hear more about characteristics of the site. |