Floristic composition of permanent grassland in the nature park Stara Planina (Serbia)

Abstract

The five most important meadow associations on the Stara Planina Mountain in National Park "Stara Planina" were analysed in order to define initial parameters for determination of grassland potential, as well as natural resources for production of biologically valuable and high quality food and revitalization of agricultural production in hilly-mountainous region. Floristic composition of five meadow associations is presented: Medicago falcate - Festucetum rubrae at three locations around the Pirot, Triflolio - Agrostietum stoloniferae Lj. Mark. 1973, Agrostietum vulgaris Z. Pavl. 1955, two ass. Festucetum vallesiaceae - Agrostietum vulgaris Danon et Blaz. 1978 and Festuco-Agrostietum Horv. (1951) 1982.em Trinajest.1972 one. All five associations are around Dimitrovgrad. First association of Festucetum vallesiaceae - Agrostietum vulgaris Danon et Blaz. 1978 had the highest diversity with the total number of 75 species. The number of species in investigated associations was: grasses from 8 to 23, legumes from 8 to 17 and other species from 21 to 34. Participation of major meadow species based on their mass is presented in the paper. On the basis of their productivity the species belong to the associations of useful grasses, useful legumes and other useful species and weeds. The study of grasslands was done in order to establish production potentials and quality of grasslands used for grazing of small ruminants, i.e. sheep and goats.