Agroforestry-Altemative use of marginallands in the future
Agroforestry is a land use system practiced thousands of years ago. Recently, due to the modified economic
and enνironmental developments there is an increased interest for this system in the temperate zone. The present research has as objectives to investigate the simultaneous production of wood and animal products. With this system, abandoned marginal lands can be brought into the production process. In our experiments wild cherry (Pnιnus aviuιn) was used. Tree spacing, establishment techniques, tree protection techniques as well as the means of reducing herbaceous competition were studied. Four years after the establishment wild cherry in plastic tubes had higher height but smaller diameter (2,7 m and 1,4 cm) compared to the free growing trees (2.4 m and 1.5 cm). Cover of herbaceous species close to the cherry trees was reduced by 91.2%, 90.5% and 74% respectively when applying the herbicide “Rundup”. the soil was covered with black color plastic sheet or cultivated manually. Forage nutritive value was higher in the treatments where grazing was applied. The cost of establishment of the agroforestry systems was lower compared to forest establishment due to the lower number of trees required.
Balance of forage production of cool-season grasses and ligneous species in relation to grazing animals demands
The demands of animals is almost constant during the year but forage production is insufficient mainly in Spring and early Summer. The gap of forage quantity and quality can be covered by using cool-season grasses for the winter and ligneous species for the summer. Cool-season grasses were of high quantity and quality during winter. The production of Agropyron cristatum was significantly higher than the other two species Dactylis glomerata and Festuca valesiaca. Amorpha fruticosa and Morus alba had also higher production than Colutea arborescens from July to September. Crude protein content of all species can meet the goats demands for maintanance and lactation during critical periods.
The role of forage plants in pasture’s improvement
Strong degradation of rangeland flora requires action for its restoration as soon as possible. Continuous heavy grazing and improper management of rangelands threaten the seed bank in the soil which may vanish. These seeds are an iιnportant source for creation of high varieties with high adaptability. The low production of rangelands and the high needs of liνestock in forage necessitate their improvement. Priority must be giνen to those with great degradation. Among iιnproveιnent measures, forage plants is the most important. Annual legumes are suggested for dry-hot environments of mild and cold regions. The choice of species and varities in each environment should be promoted. Certified seeds and correct management are important factors for the successful improνement of rangelands with forage plants.
The importance of the pastures and fodder plants for hay in the regional development of Tήcala
Trikala, is the most Ιnountainous province of Thessaly. This paper exaΙnines, the importance of the meadow and fodder plants for hay in the regional development in Trikala. The results indicate that the livestock contributed 40% to the total Agricultural product in 1990 while the agricultural product participated bgy 34% in the total regional product. There was increased of inports livestock product and stockbreeding after 1980 in Greece and the results show a negative commercial balance in the agricultural sector. The reform of the CAP and the GATT after 1990 imposed restrictions on the condition of protection agricuitural products. The province Trikaia because of environmental conditions contribute to the lesser cost of production. The livestock along with the improvement of the environment and the tourist development contribute to the development of the mountainous and semimountainous regions and consequentiy to the decelopment of the Region of Trikaia.
Utilisation of sown pasture for production of heavy lamb carcasses in Greece
Α study was carried out to assess the possibility of using a grazing sward, on land normally used for cotton cultiνation, in order to extend the lamb marketing period and reduce production costs. Α ryegrass/clover mixture, sown in September, was ready for grazing by I March. Male lambs of the Boutsko (Β), Seπes (S) and Karagouniko (Κ) breeds (36 per breed) were weaned at 42 days and group fed indoors for 63 days, at 3 concentrate levels high (Η), medium (Μ) and low (L) and hay at libitum to create differences in liveweight, within breed, at turn-out to pasture. Lambs were allocated for slaughter at 48 or 55% of estimated mature weight (MW). During the grazing period there was no effect of previous nutrition on daily liveweight gain (DL WG) in the Boutsko breed. In both S and Κ breeds, DLWG on pasture was significantly effected by previous feed level. The carcass quality of 48% MW lambs was higher than that of 55% MW. Sward height was maintained at 6,9 ± 0,25 cm until the end of the grazing season in ealry October with succesive replacement of lambs. The mean growth rate of pasture throughout the grazing period was maintained at 4.9 ± 0.52 Kg DM/stremma/day. Clover content in pasture was increased progressively with temperature increase. The results suggest that grazing on sown pasture may be an effective method of finishing two crops of these small lambs throughout the season to produce heavier (> 13 Kg) than traditionally carcasses. When pasture is not grazed by lambs, it can be used for grazing by adult sheep.
