Vascular plant cover at Kiskun Restoration Experiments, Kiskun LTER, Hungary (1995-2019)

Vascular plant cover estimated in the Kiskunság Restoration Experiments (1995-2019). The Kiskun Restoration Eperiments are located in abandoned arable land and clear-cut tree plantations mostly, but not entirely within LTER Fulophaza and close to the Bugac-Bocsa-Orgovany Site in the Kiskunság Sand Ridge. We have three restoration experiments with long-term monitoring of changes in plant species cover according to treatments. The locations are differentiated as stations in the database.
Experiment one (Exp1) involved mowing as treatment (1995-2001) on clear-cut and chemically treated previous Robinia pseudo-acacia plantations in Fülöpháza, Izsák and Bugac (three stations). A 30 m x 40 m block was allocated for the mowing treatment at each site with twelve adjacent plots of 10 m by 10 m, with six control (unmowed) and six treatment (mowed) plots randomly selected. We also had some reference grassland plots. Monitoring took place in three permanent 2 m x 2 m units per each site (n=18/treatment) from 1995-1999, re-sampled several times until 2017. Data are accessible separately for the three sites (stations), sample ID reflects the 2 m x 2 m sampling units.
Experiment two (Exp2) is located in Fülöpháza in on abandoned farmland (station). The experiment involved old-field sites. Treatment was carbon addition to induce soil N immobilization in 1998-2003. The block design was the same as above. Monitoring took place from 1998-2004, plus re-sampled less frequently till 2018. Data are accessible in one file for the station, sample ID reflects the 2 m x 2 m sampling units.
Experiment three (Exp3) is also located in Fülöpháza in abandoned fields. Three stations are included that are abandoned arable fields of different age. Restorative treatments involved seeding, mowing and carbon amendment in 1 m x 1 m units (n=64) from 2003 to 2008. Monitoring took place in 2003-2008, resampled in 2019. Data are accessible separately for the three sites (stations), sample ID reflects the 1 m x 1 m sampling units with indication of treatments.