Grassland restoration practices in the Őrjeg area of the Kalocsa-Sárköz region I.
https://doi.org/10.55725/gygk/2026/23/2/16829
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Abstract
The conservation and sustainable management of grasslands are of key importance from both nature conservation and grassland management perspectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of grassland restoration interventions carried out in areas with a well-documented land-use history. The study was conducted at two sample sites located in the Őrjeg area of the Kalocsa-Sárköz landscape unit of the Great Hungarian Plain, near Homokmégy. Following unsuccessful afforestation attempts, both sites were subjected to shrub removal over several years, after which cattle grazing was introduced. At one site, grazing was complemented by regular maintenance mowing, whereas at the other site this practice was omitted. One of the sample sites was further subdivided into a drier and a more mesic section in order to assess the influence of microhabitat differences.
In 2025, six phytosociological relevés were recorded at each site. Our results indicate that mechanical treatments following shrub removal, combined with grazing and maintenance mowing, promote the regeneration of grassland structure and species composition more effectively than grazing alone. From both conservation and grassland management perspectives, treatments integrating grazing with regular maintenance mowing proved to be more successful. Under the studied conditions, the absence of maintenance mowing limited the achievement of restoration objectives, suggesting that its reintroduction should be considered in future management practices.