The influence of Calamagrostis epigejos expansion on the species composition and soil properties of mountain mesic meadows

Due to social and economic changes which have occurred in the last decades, many meadows located in mountain regions have ceased to be used. Abandonment of meadows leads to the degradation of their species composition. An example of degradation may be seen in the development of patches dominated by Calamagrostis epigejos. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of C. epigejos in its consecutive expansion stages on qualitative properties of meadow sward and on selected physico-chemical properties of soils. The study revealed strong degradation of mountain meadows due to the expansion of C. epigejos. The degradation manifested in a decrease in species diversity, a decline of species typical for mesic meadows, and an increased proportion of synanthropic species. The increase in aboveground biomass of C. epigejos strongly reduced the biomass of other species, while underground biomass had no effect on accompanying species. However, only a small impact of C. epigejos expansion on soil degradation was detected. The cumulating plant necromass dominated by this species caused a decrease in diversity indices and, at the same time, an increase in exchangeable forms of potassium and phosphorus in the soil.