Restoration of abandoned subtropical highland grasslands in Brazil: mowing produces fast effects, but hay transfer does not

Subtropical Campos Sulinos grasslands, in South Brazil, are among the most biodiverse grasslands of the world. As climatic conditions lead to high productivity, disturbance are critical to maintain their diversity. Long-term exclusion, on the other hand, leads to plant species losses and changes in composition. No studies on the restoration of these grasslands after abandonment exist to date. We tested combinations of restoration techniques with the aim of increasing plant diversity in an abandoned and species-poor grassland in the South Brazilian highland region. In a bi-factorial experiment, we tested the effects of two different frequencies of mowing and of hay transfer. Mowing reduced plant cover, vegetation height, and abundance of erect grasses and shrubs, and increased species richness, diversity (Shannon diversity index) and prostrate forb and grass cover. No differences were found between mowing frequencies. Hay transfer was not effective at reintroducing species. The results of the present study provide further evidence that the reintroduction of plants is a major challenge in the restoration of subtropical and tropical grasslands. The study shows that mowing is a fast way to increase plant diversity in Campos Sulinos after long periods of abandonment.