Is seed availability enough to ensure colonization success?

Road building triggers vegetation and soil degradation which affects road safety. We present conclusive results in terms of roadslope protection against erosion from several studies performed on semiarid roadslopes since 2000 (in Eastern Spain). We aim to (1) improve our understanding about slope and vegetation factors which control soil erosion and plant colonisation on semiarid roadslopes; (2) assess the effectiveness of topsoiling, hydroseeding and species selection in the protection of soil against erosion and (3) set scientifically based priorities on ecosystem components that have to be taken into account in future roadslope restoration plans.Erosion and vegetation cover estimations, vegetation surveys, drilling and hydroseeding experiments with commercial and native species were performed on roadslopes, in addition to seed germination and root penetration experiments.Our results indicate that slope type and angle are the main factors controlling soil erosion and plant colonisation on semiarid roadslopes. Microsite availability is more limiting to plant establishment than seed availability. Restoration strategies based on the improvement of soil properties and the appropriate selection of native species, able to overcome harsh hydrological and structural soil conditions, are proposed and tested according to slope characteristics. Drilling proved to be a promising technique for roadcut restoration, whereas topsoiling followed by hydroseeding with a seed mixture of selected native species was the most efficient treatment, in terms of cost and benefit, to control erosion on roadfills.This study clearly shows that ecological knowledge is needed to guide restoration efforts in Mediterranean ecosystems. Moreover, an efficient transfer of scientific knowledge from researchers to the institutions concerned (restorers, policymakers and practitioners) is also needed in the perspective of a more appropriate management of these ecosystems.

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“…Seedling emergence was measured 8 months after sowing. More methodological details are provided in Tormo et al (2006).…”

Section: Influence Of Slope Factors On Plant Establishment Erosion Amentioning

confidence: 99%

How can we control erosion of roadslopes in semiarid mediterranean areas? Soil improvement and native plant establishment

2009

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“…Despite the success of test 2, the achievement of some of our tests was low (tests 3 and 4 throughout the period of observation and test 1 in October-December) and they would certainly be improved using irrigation as many authors suggest (García-Fayos et al, 2000;Tormo et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many authors found that the main limiting factor affecting plant colonization in semiarid environments is water stress, causing low vegetal cover and sparse plant patterns (Tormo et al, 2006(Tormo et al, , 2008Bochet et al, 2007). Even Garcia-Palacios et al (2010) claim that when plant cover is higher than 50% in semiarid Mediterranean embankments, no treatments are necessary to control soil erosion, and that irrigation contributes to reducing it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, on equal terms, the mixture including earthworm humus and mulch provided the best results in terms of vegetation cover. Regarding the mixtures that have not provided satisfactory vegetation cover, irrigation is essential as stated by other authors (García-Fayos et al, 2000;Tormo et al, 2006). The next step in determining the effectiveness of the four hydroseeding methods we applied in our region would be irrigation in the summer in order to maintain the vegetation cover reached in the spring period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydroseeding Application on Degraded Slopes in the Southern Mediterranean Area (Sicily)

et al. 2013

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“…Traditionally, plant colonisation has been considered as limited by the distance between appropriate seed source areas and target areas in humid reclaimed environments (Kirmer and Mahn, 2001;Novak and Prach, 2003). Bochet et al (2007) and Tormo et al (2006) identified water availability as the main factor controlling germination processes in semiarid roadslopes. According to these results, we suggest that in reclaimed semiarid environments, where water is the main limiting factor for vegetation growth, overland flow is one of the main factors driving plant colonization by increasing water deficit in the soil, not only for germination at the surface (5 cm depth), but also in depth (at 25 and 50 cm) for further plant establishment and plant community development.…”

Section: The Modulation Of Ecohydrological Interactions By Overland Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overland flow directs soil moisture and ecosystem processes at patch scale in Mediterranean restored hillslopes

Merino‐Martín

Heras

Espigares

et al. 2015

CATENA

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Is seed availability enough to ensure colonization success?

Cited by 44 publications

References 16 publications

How can we control erosion of roadslopes in semiarid mediterranean areas? Soil improvement and native plant establishment

How can we control erosion of roadslopes in semiarid mediterranean areas? Soil improvement and native plant establishment

Hydroseeding Application on Degraded Slopes in the Southern Mediterranean Area (Sicily)

Overland flow directs soil moisture and ecosystem processes at patch scale in Mediterranean restored hillslopes

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