*2.3. The Field Trial*

Field study was conducted in July 2019. The height of the tallest plant shoot from the ground level to the top of the stem was measured in each study plot using a folder tape. Within each plot, the total percentage of plant cover and the percentage of plant cover damaged by trampling were visually estimated using a cover-abundance scale with an interval of 5%. Furthermore, the vascular plant species growing in the herbaceous layer within each plot were inventoried. The seedlings and saplings were removed and determined according to Csapodý [48] and Muller [49]. The degree of cover-abundance of each species was visually estimated according to a scale of Braun-Blanquet [50]. The explication of particular points of scale is as follows:

