Calorific value of forage
The energy that is stored in ecosystems is the result of photosynthetic efficiency of the plants and it is measured in calories. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of different management practices, carried out in the pastures around the lakes Zazari and Cheimaditida, as well as the types of vegetation on the caloric value of forage material. For each region and each type of vegetation the aboveground herbaceous production was measured and the calorific content per gram of dry weight and calorific value were determined. The results showed that the calorific content expressed in Kcalories/g of dry weight is greater in silvopastoral systems of the two wetland regions. Higher calorific content of dry weight was also recorded for the pastures of Cheimaditida in relation to the pastures of Zazari. The interaction of two factors (vegetation type x region) revealed that the silvopastoral system of Cheimaditida contained the highest calorific content followed by the grasslands of Cheimaditida, the silvopastoral system of Zazari and finally the grasslands of Zazari. The calorific value was greater for grasslands in relation to silvopastoral systems for both regions and was also greater for the pastures of Cheimaditida than the pastures of Zazari.
Establishment of grass and legume species in different ecotopes
In this study, the establishment of several perennial range plant mixtures was investigated at different ecotopes (grassland, kermes oak shrubland, roadsides and barren grounds) at three mountain ranges of Greece (Olympos, Othrys, Agrafa), using the broadcasting method. In each ecotope, three different mixtures of grass and legume species (Μ1: Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Medicago lupulina, Lotus corniculatus, Μ2: Festuca ovina, Poa pratensis, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Μ3: Festuca arundinacea, Arrenatherum elatius, Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense) were seeded, without seed covering, in plots of 100 m2 each in spring of 2007. Furthermore, species participating in the mixtures were also seeded in monocultures. At the end of the growing season species density (number of species number/m2) were recorded. Most of the species were adapted to the environmental conditions of each ecotope. In the ecotope ¨disturbed area¨ all species had the highest establishment. In the majority of ecotopes, mixtures M1 and M2 had better estalblishment than M3. The species Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Lolium perenne and Medicago sativa were the best established and should be used in the future in order to restore the degraded rangelands with the broadcasting method.
Flora and vegetation of the forest ecosystems along the road Krestena-Adritsena after the 2007 forest fire
Τhe present study analyses the flora and vegetation along the Krestena – Andritsaina route, after the disastrous fire of 2007. The results show that, after the fire, the vegetation in the area is very rich, composed of more than 220 plant species, including rare, vulnerable and endemic species as well as invasive neophytes. The vegetation and natural regeneration have been progressed very well. Four dominant plant communities are described in the area depicting the current situation, and suggestions are made for the restoration and improvement of vegetation. Grazing appears to be one of the major factors affecting the restoration of the vegetation.
Diachronic change in plant cover and diversity in abandoned arable fields at the University Forest of Taxiarhis in Chalkidiki, northern Greece
Changes in use and management of agricultural land may lead to significant changes in plant diversity and cover. The purpose of this study is to estimate cover and plant diversity in various stages of vegetation succession after abandonment of agricultural arable lands in mountain areas of northern Greece. The research was conducted at the University forest of Taxiarchis in Chalkidiki prefecture in northern Greece. In abandoned arable fields, one until sixty years old, representing successional vegetation stages, plant cover and diversity were measured. It was found that cover of herbaceous species was significantly higher in the fields 30 (85.0%) and 10 (77.2%) years old. Woody species appeared in the 30th year but their presence was not strong. The number of species was higher in the intermediate stages of development of vegetation and significantly lower in the abandoned fields of one year old. Similar trend was followed by the richness and the Shannon-Wiener index. The evenness index was significantly different in the various stages of succession.
Perennial grasses recovery capacity to the intense cutting in the middle of the growing period
The purpose of this study was to investigate the recovery capacity of the perennial grasses Dactylis glomerata and Phalaris aquatica to the intense cutting in the middle of the growing period. There were applied two treatments (cutting and control). In the samples taken from the two treatments they were measured the leaf area and the weight of leaves and shoots. The variables calculated were: leaf area index, specific leaf weight, specific leaf area, the leaf weight ratio to the total weight of biomass above the ground and the coefficient of recovery. The results showed that the intense cutting in the middle of growing period decreased the density of leafage of Phalaris aquatica. Dactylis glomerata after the cutting had higher thickness of leaf compared to Phalaris aquatica. The higher values of the coefficient of recovery of Dactylis glomerata after the cutting in the middle of germinal period, compared to those of Phalaris aquatica, indicate that Dactylis glomerata has the capacity to recover after intense cutting in the middle of growing period.
