The effect of different combination of livestock grazing on herbage production in permanent dry grasslands

Rangelands are multifunctional natural non-arable land, covered by different types of vegetation, including herbaceous and woody plants. Dry grasslands occupy areas that have relatively dry and nutrient-poor soils and they are mainly used for livestock grazing. Grazing is recognized as an important ecological factor in grassland ecosystems, which has affected the structure, the composition and the characteristics of vegetation. The aim of this paper was to study the effect of different combination of livestock grazing on the production in two dry grasslands. The study area was located near the lakes Zazari and Chimaditida, in Florina region, western Macedonia, Greece. The grasslands in Zazari were used by small ruminants and cattle of the nearby village, while the grasslands in Chimaditida were used mainly by sheep and very few goats. The herbage production in both grasslands was measured in 2008. It was found significantly lower in the grasslands of Zazari than in the grasslands of Chimaditida. The grazing by different kind of animals has created a different plant structure and composition in the grasslands.