Structure of natural pasture vegetation and relations with some environmental factors

This study was carried out in 2018-2019 to investigate the effects of five different directions on the soil temperature, soil moisture, elevation from the sea level, botanical composition, and forage yields in the pasture that has natural vegetation belonging to Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University in Köseilyas Neighborhood of Süleymanpaşa District of Tekirdağ Province. Plant species and the ratios of botanical composition were determined by using the Wheeled Lup method in 2018 and 2019 in the southeast (1st direction), south (2nd direction), northwest (3rd direction), west (4th direction), and north (5th direction) directions in the boundaries of the pasture area, which is the research area. When the two years' data are examined, 103 different plant species belonging to 22 families were found; Dactylis glomerata, Eryngium campestre, Plantago coronopus, Vulpia ciliata, Trifolium campestre were identified as the dominant species of pasture. The participation rate of Fabaceae, Poaceae, and other species in the botanical composition in the first year was 24,20%, 38,33%, 37,45%, and in the second year, 16,81%, 34,18%, 49,00%, respectively. The measurements showed that fresh yields were 1051,37 kg/da in the first year and 1010,66 kg/da in the second year; on the other hand, hay yields were 391,59 kg/da in the first year and 376,06 kg/da in the second year. Direction had a significant effect on the yield of fodder, the yield of green pasture, and the number of plants. Key words: Pasture, Soil Moisture, Soil Temperature, Botanical Composition, Direction 2021, 90 pages