Grassland production and forage quality in two different climatological environments of Ioannina prefecture

The study was conducted at two sites of Greece: 1) Katsikas (low elevation zone) and 2) Metsovo (high elevation zone). At every site, two experimental plots (500m2 each one) were established: a) not grazed and b) grazed, each one having eight plots, corresponding to eight harvest dates, and four replications. At every harvest date, the biomass production, the proportion of new biomass to litter, the crude protein and the crude fiber content were measured. At the harvest date that biomass production was maximum, the proportion between grasses, legumes, other forbs and litter was also measured. The production of new biomass was maximum in May at the low elevation site (5570 kgr/ha) and in June at the high elevation site (3780 kg/ha). The grazing percentage at the low site did not exceed 50% during the month of maximum production. Grasses dominated at both grazed and not grazed plots in both sites, followed by legumes at the low site, while by forbs at the high one. The crude protein was higher in the grazed plot comparing to the protected one and had the maximum value during spring in the low elevation site, while during early summer in the high elevation site. On the contrary, crude fiber had the lowest value in spring in both sites.