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https://doi.org/10.2478/botcro-2014-0003

Plant diversity and chemical soil composition of rocky pastures in relation to the sheep grazing intensity on the northern Adriatic islands (Croatia)

Ivica Ljubičić orcid.org/0000-0001-6109-6016 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mihaela Britvec ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Sven D. Jelaska ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, Marulićev trg 20, Zagreb, Croatia
Stjepan Husnjak ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Svetošimunska 25, Zagreb, Croatia

Sažetak

Optimal grazing pressure on rocky pastures is beneficial to the development of plant species and maintenance of plant diversity. Both abandonment of grazing and overgrazing gradually reduce plant diversity. This paper correlated abundance patterns of the flora on rocky pastures with the values of the chemical composition of the soil resulting from the degree of sheep grazing intensity. The study was carried out in the period from 2008 to 2010 on the islands of Pag, Krk and Cres. At 30 sites, 310 taxa of vascular plants were found. The highest plant diversity and 220 plant taxa were found on moderately grazed pastures. Abandoned pastures with a total of 93 plant taxa observed show the dominance of phanerophytes (35.5%) and the highest proportion of the Mediterranean floral element when compared to pastures of moderate and heavy grazing intensity. The highest concentration of total nitrogen in the soil (0.71%) was recorded on plots of heavy grazing intensity. The results of the study indicate that moderate grazing intensity, from 1 to 1.5 sheep ha–1, can be recommended on the northern Adriatic islands. This should contribute not only to the preservation of plant diversity, but also to the improvement of ecological sheep farming.

Ključne riječi

chemical composition of the soil; Mediterranean flora; rocky pasture, sheep grazing intensity

Hrčak ID:

127806

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/127806

Datum izdavanja:

2.10.2014.

Posjeta: 1.670 *