Establishment of grass and legume species in different ecotopes

In this study, the establishment of several perennial range plant mixtures was investigated at different ecotopes (grassland, kermes oak shrubland, roadsides and barren grounds) at three mountain ranges of Greece (Olympos, Othrys, Agrafa), using the broadcasting method. In each ecotope, three different mixtures of grass and legume species (Μ1: Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Medicago lupulina, Lotus corniculatus, Μ2: Festuca ovina, Poa pratensis, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Μ3: Festuca arundinacea, Arrenatherum elatius, Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense) were seeded, without seed covering, in plots of 100 m2 each in spring of 2007. Furthermore, species participating in the mixtures were also seeded in monocultures. At the end of the growing season species density (number of species number/m2) were recorded. Most of the species were adapted to the environmental conditions of each ecotope. In the ecotope ¨disturbed area¨ all species had the highest establishment. In the majority of ecotopes, mixtures M1 and M2 had better estalblishment than M3. The species Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Lolium perenne and Medicago sativa were the best established and should be used in the future in order to restore the degraded rangelands with the broadcasting method.