OPTIONS New approaches for grassland OPTIONS méditerranéennes méditerranéennes research in a context of climate SERIES A: Mediterranean Seminars and socio-economic changes 2012 – Number 102 CIHEAM New approaches for grassland Edited by: research in a context of climate Z. Acar, A. López-Francos, C. Porqueddu and socio-economic changes Edited by: Z. Acar, A. López-Francos, C. Porqueddu Grassland-based systems are no longer seen exclusively as livestock production enterprises but as multiple use systems with important consequences for the global environment. They are crucial for the protection of ecosystem goods and services, for tourism and for mitigating climate change. Well- managed grasslands provide important benefits such as increased water infiltration and retention or improved nutrient cycling, associated with organic matter accumulation in the soil, as well as increased plant growth and species diversity. Thereby, grassland management is also an adaptation strategy for climate change, as it reduces the risks associated with prolonged drought periods and unreliable rains that characterise Mediterranean regions. There is an urgent need to assess the interaction between climate change and grasslands to identify appropriate options that can help farmers to manage forage resources under increasing drought conditions and market globalisation. The challenge is then to improve grassland productivity, pasture persistence and resilience under these constraints. Scientific advances in grassland management and new strategies in plant improvement may undoubtedly OPTIONS OPTIONS méditerranéennes contribute to this aim. méditerranéennes This publication is the outcome of the 14th Meeting of the FAO-CIHEAM Inter-regional Cooperative of climate and socio-economic changes Research and Development Sub-Network on Mediterranean Pastures and Fodder Crops titled “New approaches for grassland research in a context of climatic and socio-economic changes” which took place in Samsun (Turkey) from 3 to 6 October 2012, and includes the invited and selected papers presented at the Meeting. context a in research grassland for approaches New OPTIONS méditerranéennes SERIES A: Mediterranean Seminars 2012 – Number 102 2012 ISBN: 2-85352-490-6 Prix: 83,85 Euro ISSN: 1016-121-X A 102 List of contents Foreword.................................................................................................................................. 9 Meeting Commitees ................................................................................................................. 11 Introductory Session An overview of fodder resources and animal production in Turkey – A. Koc, M. Tan and H.I. Erkovan ............................................................................................................................. 15 Overview on grassland and farming systems in Samsun province – Z. Acar, I. Ayan and O. Tongel ................................................................................................................................. 23 Reform of the CAP: Progress for grasslands and livestock farming? – A. Peeters ...................... 29 Session 1: Climate change and grasslands: Impacts, adaptation and mitigation Climate change and grasslands: impacts, adaptation and mitigation – A. Hopkins................... 37 Developing a coherent monitoring system for Mediterranean grasslands – M. Louhaichi, M.D. Johnson, P.E. Clark, A.O. Belgacem and D. Johnson.......................................................... 47 Grassland management options under Kyoto Protocol Article 3.4 – The Portuguese case study – T. Valada, R. Teixeira, H. Martins, M. Ribeiro and T. Domingos................................................ 53 Production and persistence of Mediterranean perennial grasses under contrasting climatic scenarios – M. Poirier, J.L. Durand and F. Volaire ....................................................................... 57 Influence of water deficit on growth parameters of perennial grass species – M. Karatassiou, M. Lazaridou , P. Kostopoulou and T. Antoniou.......................................................................... 61 Preliminary results on climate change evidence from coprolites of Myotragus balearicus Bate 1909 (Artiodactyla, Caprinae) – L. Rivera, E. Baraza, J. Alcover, P. Bover, C. Retuerto, X. Martínez and J. Bartolomé ....................................................................................................................... 65 Vulnerability to Climate Change of Turkana pastoralists of dry savanna – F. López-i-Gelats, J. Bartolomé and M. Rivera-Ferre............................................................................................... 69 Economic effects of the changing regime of autumn rains onto sheep breeding farms – G. Dono, L. Giraldo and R. Cortignani.................................................................................... 73 Dehydration tolerance and drought survival of summer dormant Moroccan ecotypes of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) – R. Kallida, N. Shaimi and F. Volaire ........................................ 77 Options Méditerranéennes, A, no. 102, 2012 – New approaches for grassland 1 research in a context of climate and socio-economic changes Effect of limited water supply on Melilotus officinalis nutrient content – P. Kostopoulou, M. Karatassiou and N. Barbayannis........................................................................................... 83 Competition in an alfalfa-tall fescue mixture under Mediterranean conditions – M. Lazaridou, P. Kostopoulou and M. Karatassiou............................................................................................ 87 Competition for soil water among trees, shrubs and pasture in Iberian Dehesas. Consequences for pasture and tree productivity – G. Moreno, V. Rolo and E. Cubera .............. 93 REFORMA: a new project for identification and selection of resilient, water- and energy- efficient forage and feed crops for Mediterranean agricultural systems – P. Annicchiarico, C. Porqueddu, B. Julier, L. Pecetti, K. Abbas, A. Abdelguerfi, A. Bouizgaren, E.C. Brummer, J. Burstin, T. Hayek and I. Thami-Alami...................................................................................... 97 Impact of climate variability on the role and management of wetlands in the Middle Atlas (Afenourir area) – M. Qarro and M. Ezzahiri ............................................................................ 103 Policy approaches to grassland in planning documents of Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock in Turkey – Í. Dede and C. S¸erefog˘lu.......................................................................... 107 Agro-pastoral production system of Egypt. Climate change, vulnerability and opportunities for poverty alleviation – H.R.M. Metawi .................................................................................. 113 Session 2: Selection of pasture and forage species under climate and socio-economic changes Selection of pasture and forage species adapted to changing environmental conditions in Mediterranean climates – M.R. Norton and F. Volaire............................................................... 119 Quality and dry matter yield of Triticale forage in winter and late-spring in Southwestern Apain – S. Rodrigo, M.J. Poblaciones, N. Pinheiro, B. Maças, L. Olea, O. Santamaría and T. García-White......................................................................................................................... 129 Performance of some tall fescue varieties grown under Algerian semi arid conditions – M. Mefti, B. Bouzerzour, A. Chebouti, D. Kebour and A. Abedleguerfi ................................... 135 Bio-agronomic traits of Psoralea bituminosa and P. morisiana accessions collected in Sardinia – C. Porqueddu, R.A.M. Melis, G.A. Re, M. Usai and M. Marchetti............................................ 139 Variation in seed yield and morphological traits in Turkish grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) genotypes – U. Basaran, H. Mut, O. Onal Asci, E. Gulumser, Z. Acar and I. Ayan....................... 145 Agronomic evaluation of introduced accessions of Vicia narbonensis L. under contrasting environments and two years period – A. Zoghlami Khélil, H. Hassen, H. Ben Salem and S. Benyoussef ............................................................................................................................... 149 Messina (Melilotus siculus) – a new annual pasture legume for mediterranean-type climates with high tolerance of both salinity and waterlogging – P.G.H., Nichols, N.L. Teakle, A.L. Bonython, R.A. Ballard, N. Charman and A.D. Craig .......................................................... 155 2 Options Méditerranéennes, A, no. 102, 2012 Comparative estimation of crude protein, phenols and tannins concentration of Lotus corniculatus growing in different habitats – P. Giagourta, Z.M. Parissi, A.P. Kyriazopoulos and E.M. Abraham........................................................................................................................... 161 Agricultural traits of blue grass accessions in Black Sea Region of Turkey – I. Ayan, Z. Acar, E. Gulumser, S. Arslan, M. Can and O. Tongel ........................................................................... 165 The determination of pasture type alfalfa lines – S. Altinok, M. Türk, T. Erol and E. Akçelik Somay ...................................................................................................................... 169 Technical culture