Species rich grasslands (natural and semi-natural) are one the most threatened ecosystems in Europe due to various reasons: change of traditional management, abandonment and re-growth or land-use intensification (eutrophication, fragmentation …). To monitor changes in floristic composition of species rich grasslands due to intensified management we selected 15 farms in western part of Slovenia (Karst region) at the junction of Alps, Dinaric and Sub-Mediterranean regions. This is one of the hot spots of species biodiversity in Europe. Fifteen farms were selected and on each farm two locations/ grasslands with known, but different intensity of management (particularly regarding fertilization) were chosen. On sample plots (25 m2 ) a vegetation relevé was made, soil samples collected, forage/ biomass yield determined, and farmers interviewed regarding their fertilization management. Species richness of plots was not affected by the use of fertilizers (average 36.6 versus 40.1 species on non-fertilized plots), and only portion of legumes was higher on plots with higher P2O5 content in the soil. A higher share of species important for nature conservation was found on non-fertilized plots, but this was in positive correlation with pH and not with K2O and P2O5 content of the soil. Forage from the areas where species important for nature conservation were found was characterized by lower concentration of net energy for lactation. Among invasive alien species Erigeron annuus was most frequent on fertilized plots.
F.27 Contribution to preserving/protecting natural and cultural heritage
COBISS.SI-ID: 43258925