Extensively managed strips in intensively cultivated grasslands as possible contributors to increased plant species richness

This four-year study investigated whether partitioning intensively managed grass crop fields by non-fertilized, extensively managed permanent strips created new habitats for semi-natural grassland plants and contributed to increased plant species richness. The strips were set aside in the grass crop or ploughed at the start of the experiment, and either uncut or cut each autumn. Uncut strips became species-poor and dominated by Elymus repens. Cut strips contained more species than the grass crop but most were generalists or woody species. A few semi-natural species were present in non-experimental field margins bordering the grass crop fields, but few colonized the strips. Setting aside non-fertilized strips is not sufficient to increase plant species richness; further management, e. g., annual cutting and removal of plant material is required. Strips created on fertile soils may be a poor habitat for several semi-natural species and are not likely to contribute to an increased plant species richness of any significance.