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Which vegetation and soil parameters limit species establishment in restored grasslands? Do these parameters operate predominantly on a fine or a community scale?

White Carpathian Mountains, SE Czech Republic.

We compared 16 grasslands restored on former arable land with 9 well‐preserved reference grasslands. We sampled cover of plant species in plots of 2 m × 2 m (community scale) in which four 20 cm × 20 cm subplots (fine scale) were nested. We quantified fine‐scale heterogeneity as the mean Sørensen dissimilarity index among the species composition of the subplots. To characterize site conditions, we analyzed soil properties, above‐ground plant biomass and its nutrient content.

Restored grasslands had a lower number of plant species at both the community and fine scales. Species number at the community scale was positively associated with the …