Direct seeding and turf transplantation can reintroduce native species in grassland degraded by pine plantation

Abstract Introduction Grasslands worldwide have been extensively converted to exotic tree plantations, resulting in persistent degradation and limited natural recovery after tree removal. In southern Brazil, pine plantations alter soil conditions and create dense litter layers that restrict native plant regeneration, highlighting the need for active restoration. Objectives We evaluated direct seeding, turf transplantation, and their combination for restoring a South Brazilian coastal grassland following pine plantation removal. Methods Following a prescribed burn, we established a randomized block experiment with four treatments: direct seeding, turf transplantation, combined seeding and turf transplantation (each at half propagule input), and an untreated control. Vegetation cover, species richness, and community composition during the initial restoration phase. Results All restoration treatments increased species richness relative to the control. Direct seeding produced the highest vegetation cover, although it did not differ from the combined treatment, while turf transplantation achieved similar species richness despite lower cover. The combined treatment produced cover and richness within the range of the individual techniques, suggesting that combining methods can achieve comparable short‐term outcomes with reduced propagule inputs. Conclusion Our results indicate that propagule limitation can constrain early grassland recovery following pine removal and that active reintroduction of native species can promote vegetation establishment. Direct seeding rapidly increased vegetation cover, whereas turf transplantation contributed to native species establishment and vegetative expansion. Combining both techniques may provide a practical approach to simultaneously promote vegetation cover and native species enrichment during early restoration.