The expansion of Calamagrostis villosa into Nardo-Caricion rigidae grasslands has been recor-ded in the Giant Mountains over the last few decades. The grasslands above the upper tree line were used for cattle grazing and haymaking practices for at least 300 years and the expansion of C. villosa has been recorded after the cessation of this management. The response of the C. villosa stands to mowing and nitrogen fertilization was studied in an experiment over a two- year period. Mowing resulted in the fast decrease of C. villosa coverage, canopy height and biomass production. The fertilization (30 kg N-ha-1 per year) was not able to compensate for the biomass production of mown plots. On the other hand, fertilization resulted in only a slight increase in biomass production in non-mowed plots. The number of C. villosa shoots decreased rapidly under mowing, was constant under mowing combined with fertilization, and increased in the fertilized plots. The fast negative reaction of C. villosa to mowing probably indicates its high sensitivity to defoliation and nutrient removal. Its expansion seems to be the long-term reaction of Nardus stricta dominated grasslands to the cessation of defoliation practices. Its expansion can also be supported by nitrogen deposition. Obtained results, with regard to defoliation sensitivity, probably indicate the quick reduction of C. villosa in agriculturally exploited grasslands above the upper tree line over the last few centuries.
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