Species composition and vegetation structure after cessation of grazing management in a grassland of the Ioannina plateau

The aim of this work was to examine how cessation of grazing for four years and applying only clipping as well as N affect application ground cover, species composition, frequency, and diversity in a grassland of the Ioannina plateau. In spring, the cover was not differentiated between the two management systems and there was a gradual increase from 1993 to 1995 in autumn. The total percentage of grasses was increased after stopping grazing in spring and autumn, because of the increase of Bromus hordeaceus and Alopecurus urticulatus percentages and frequency especially after N addition. The results concerning the total legumes and forbs were the opposite of grasses. Of perennial grass Holcus lanatus cover and frequency were also reduced with clipping especially after N addition. In the clipping system, frequency of legumes and forbs was lower even without N addition, because of the decrease of Trifolium spp. and Ranunculus sardous. The species number and diversity were not differentiated after stopping grazing but they were reduced after N addition.