Establishment and Survival of Different Legume and Grass Species and Cultivars at a Limestone Quarry in Greece

Abstract

The establishment and survival of different legume and grass species and cultivars under various mulching practices at a limestone quarry was studied. The mulching treatments applied were: a) bare soil, b) bentonite, c) bentonite-straw, and d) asphalt-straw. Significant differences were found among species and cultivars, growing on different treatments, as far as plant growth and survival were concerned. Seed germination was higher on bentonite-straw and asphalt-straw than on bentonite but plant' survival at the end of the growing season was higher on bentonite. Among the legume species Trifolium repens and among the grass species Lolium perenne had better establishment than the other species tested at all treatments, as they had a higher seed germination rate—30.2% and 29.2%, respectively. However, at the end of the growing season Lotus corniculatus, Agropyron desertorum, and particular cultivars of Trifolium subteranneum, and Dactylis glomerata had a higher survival rate than the other species. The aforementioned species are characterized by drought resistance and it seems that they could be used for the restoration of limestone quarries, especially in semi-arid areas, where revegetation is obstructed mainly due to lack of water.

Keywords:

• degraded areas
• plant density
• restoration
• revegetation

Notes

NAGREF: National Agriculture Research Foundation, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece

∗Turgeon (2002)

†Stevens et al. (1989)

‡Peters (2004)

^§Frame et al. (1998)

∗P < 0.05. DF: degree of freedom.

∗Columns with different code letters are significantly different (P<0.05). BS: bare soil; BE: bentonite; BE-S: bentonite and straw; AS-S: asphalt emulsion and straw.

∗Columns with different code letters are significantly different (P<0.05).