Investigating Vegetation of Mowed and Grazed Areas in Tamdere Village Alpine Pastures in Turkey

Activities of transhumance ongoing have been mostly carried out in alpine pastures for centuries in Turkey. These pastures used unconsciously have faced to the danger of extinction. In order to implement improvement plans in the mentioned areas, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pastures should be determined. This study was conducted in the mowed and grazed pastures in alpine zones in Anatolia, Turkey in 2013 and 2016. In the study, botanical compositions, quality degree, condition and healthy of areas, hay yield, grazing capacity and basal plant coverage of the pastures were investigated. Loop method was used for vegetation measurements concerning the blooming time of commanding plant species. According to the results obtained from the research, 146 taxa were identified involving 8 endemic from 30 families. In the mowed pastures, the average values of botanical composition were found as 31.61% grasses, 18.65% legumes and 49.74% other plant families and in the grazed pastures, the average of composition was estimated as 37.75% grasses, 14.25% legumes and 49.00% other plant families. Botanical compositions of grasses (P≤0.01), legumes (P≤0.05) and other families (P≤0.05) were significantly different among the areas. Although all of the studied pastures were in the healthy quality degree and conditions (P≤0.05) and danger of erosion has not been seen, quality of forage and grazing is not adequate in the study areas. Hay yield was given as 2869 kg ha-1(P≤0.01) in the mowed areas and 1912 kg ha-1 (P≤0.01) in the grazed areas. Grazing capacities in the mowed and grazing pastures were identified as 9.37 (P≤0.01) and 6.87(P≤0.01) animal unit ha-1, respectively and it was detected that the examined pastures were grazed over their capacity. According to situation of vegetation, it can be said that climax vegetation of pastures was perished and the management measures should be planned for grazing capacity. Pasture breeding studies should be paid attention. In addition, weed control, top seeding and fertilizing should be conducted.