The alteration of ground cover and total herbage and browse production under proper grazing in a silvopastoral system
The establishment of a silvopastoral system in a Mediterranean environment is expected to fill up the feed gaps of the grazing animals for winter and summer. The aim of this research was to study the alteration of ground cover and total herbage and browse production under proper grazing in a silvopastoral system. The experiment was conducted at Scholari village of Thessaloniki, Greece, in a 1.7 ha area, which was fenced in order to exclude the uncontrolled grazing and was divided into six equal size plots. Three of them were randomly assigned to be grazed while the other three remained ungrazed. In all plots, two woody fodder species, Robinia pseudoacacia and Morus alba were planted separately at three different spacings (1.5mx1.5m, 2.5mx2.5m and 3.5mx3.5m). Half of the plots, planted with the woody species, were ploughed and seeded while the other half remained undisturbed. Dactylis glomerata cv. palestina was seeded into Robinias’ plots while Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mt Barker was seeded into Morus’ plots. The experimental design was the split-split plot with incorporated factors and three replications. For the comparison of the incorporated factors a completely random design was applied. The research has shown that proper grazing reduced ground cover by 4.4% in three years. Ground cover in the ungrazed plots was 92.6% in 1997 while in 1999 was increased to 94.3%. Regardless of grazing, the groung cover of Dactylis glomerata was decreased by 52.6% and that of Trifolium subterraneum by 38.2% at the end of the third year. Grazing seemed to be more harmfull for Dactylis glomerata (74% decrease) than to Trifolium subterraneum (20.6% decrease) along the three years. Proper grazing decreased the total production of the silvopastoral system compared to the ungrazed plots. The browse production of the woody species was decreased by 37% while the herbage production by 31%.
Effect of clipping intensity on forage production and quality of Morus alba L. during the summer period
In the Mediterranean zone woody fodder species are important feed sources, especially during the summer-autumn period when herbaceous species are quantitatively and qualitatively limited. The effect of different clipping intensity of the current growth (30% and 60%) compared to control (0%) on production and quality of Morus alba foliage (leaves and twigs) was studied. The clipping conducted at three different periods in the end of May, in the middle of July and in the end of August. Forage production of the 60% clipping intensity was significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) compared to the 30%, while there was no difference in forage quality between the two treatments.
Christian tradition and range landscape ecology
Fasting constitutes one of the longest established customs in human history, while it is considered to be an important element among most religions, as a sign of grief or preparation of great feasts. As a religious and sacred institution, fasting aims at soul purification and body health as well. Since medicine was under the authority of religion, fasting was often designated by priests as a preventive and therapeutic mean. Orthodox Christian Church established and adjusted the practice of fasting taking also under consideration the function of nature throughout the year. The
main purpose of this action was the protection of natural resources. By regulating the number of the animals, reproduction period, etc. according to traditions and forage sufficiency, stockbreeders were the first to obtain a complete approach of rangeland management, stockbreeding and preservation of the natural environment. Interdependence among Christian tradition-feasts-naturefunction of stockbreeders (reduction of animal number) within the annual circle, a dynamic environmental balance had been created. Lately though due to estrangement of traditions and demographic changes, especially in the mountainous areas, this balanced relationship has been disturbed with unfavorable results in Greek landscapes. The preservation and protection of natural and cultural elements of landscapes and Christian traditions as well compose the safety valve for a sustainable development and production with a simultaneous ecological balance.
Indices for the usefulness of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in European hare’s (Lepus europaeus Pallas) food management plans in hunting areas
European hare is a strictly herbivorous animal. Its diet consisted of a large variety of plant species, according to available resources in their habitat. In natural settings, grasses are the most preferred food resource from hares, while forbs are usually a limited component in hare’s diet. In this research, 16 hares were placed in variable sizes fenced paddocks with seeded vegetation, which was comprised of six grass species and two legumes. Hares showed higher preference for lucerne compared with all other plant species. Lucerne might be considered a useful species for hare’s habitat improvement. When hares lived in fenced areas for a month, the vegetation was overused only in paddocks of less than 48m2 area.
Contribution to the knowledge of the flora and the vegetation of the wetland lake Agra
The physiognomicaly distinct units of vegetation at Agra Lake are shown and the vegetation map of the area is given. These vegetation units, which are composed of 309 taxa, depict 8 distinct biotopes of the area. The highest area of the district is occupied of reed beds biotopes. Biological and chorological spectrum of the flora of the study area and the distribution of the plants species in the units of vegetation are presented.
