Permanent meadows and pastures

Permanent meadows and pastures

1. Identification and origin

Permanent meadows and pastures are herbaceous plant formations, dominated by grasses, legumes and other perennial species adapted to continuous or seasonal grazing. They can be natural, semi-natural or improved, resulting from the interaction between climate, soil, management and floristic composition. They are common in temperate and Mediterranean regions, performing productive, ecological and landscape functions.

2. Economic importance

Permanent pastures are fundamental for extensive and semi-intensive livestock production, providing low-cost feed for cattle, sheep, goats and horses. They contribute to the stability of agro-silvo-pastoral systems, reducing feeding costs, improving the quality of animal products and promoting sustainability. They are also important in soil conservation, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and erosion prevention.

3. Botanical characterisation

The floristic composition is variable, but generally includes:

• Perennial grasses: Lolium perenne L., Dactylis glomerata L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Phalaris aquatica L., Agrostis spp.
• Forage legumes: Trifolium repens L., Trifolium pratense L., Medicago sativa L., Lotus corniculatus L.
• Other herbaceous species: Plantago lanceolata L., Rumex spp., Achillea millefolium L., among others

Grasses provide structure and productivity; legumes contribute biological nitrogen fixation; the remaining species increase resilience and biodiversity. The root system is deep and dense, favouring soil stability.

4. Soil and climate requirements

Requirements vary according to the floristic composition, but include:

• Well-drained soils, with loamy to clay-loam texture
• pH generally between 5.5 and 7.0
• Moderate to high annual rainfall requirement, or supplementary irrigation
• Variable drought tolerance (e.g.: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea)
• Sensitivity of some legumes to waterlogging and high acidity
• In Mediterranean systems: strong seasonality, with summer dormancy

5. Main pests

• Aphids (Aphididae): reduced vigour and transmission of viruses
• Legume weevils (Sitona spp.): root damage in legumes
• Defoliating caterpillars (Spodoptera spp., Mythimna unipuncta): intense defoliation in grasses
• Leatherjackets (Tipula spp.): root damage in moist meadows
• Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp.): vegetative decline and reduced productivity

6. Main diseases

• Damping-off and root rots (Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp.): death of seedlings and establishment failures
• Rusts (Pucciniales): pustules and reduced biomass production
• Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.): foliar lesions in grasses
• Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis): white spots and reduced photosynthesis
• Legume diseases: include stem rots caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, root necrosis associated with Rhizoctonia spp. and viral infections transmitted by aphids (BYMV, CMV), which cause mosaics and reduce the capacity for nitrogen fixation

7. General cultural management

The management of permanent meadows and pastures is based on integrated practices:

• Selection of mixtures adapted to the climate, soil and grazing system
• pH correction and balanced fertilisation, with attention to phosphorus and sulphur
• Grazing management (rotational, controlled continuous) to avoid overgrazing
• Periodic renovation or oversowing to maintain productivity
• Control of woody and invasive weeds
• Monitoring of pests and diseases, with a main focus on prevention
• Management of stocking rate to preserve the structure of the vegetation cover
• Soil and water conservation, including maintenance of permanent cover
• In Mediterranean systems: summer rest and protection against excessive trampling

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Forage crops and grasslands
• CABI – Crop Protection Compendium – Forage grasses and legumes
• Frame, J., et al. (1998). Grassland management. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series.
• Hopkins, A., et al. (2000). Grassland ecology and management. Horticultural Reviews.
• FAO (2020). Grassland and Rangeland Management Manual.
• Lüscher, A., et al. (2014). Forage legumes and grasses in temperate systems. Acta Horticulturae.