Conditions for Growth of Plants

This chapter sets out the approach and research methods used to assess the plant types and species that grow in different parts of the targeted Mediterranean landscape and that could potentially be used in restoration strategies and mitigation of desertified and degraded land. Species occurring in the various land units in the study catchment in southeast Spain are identified. These units are reforested land, rainfed croplands, semi-natural and abandoned land and stream channels, Factors restricting growth of trees and understorey vegetation in reforested land were assessed using experimental plots and the effects of pine litter on seed germination were tested. The potential for growth of cover crops between orchard trees was assessed from hydrological balances. Using multivariate statistical analysis various factors were found to influence the regrowth of vegetation in abandoned agricultural lands. In the ephemeral stream channels a wide range of variables was analyzed and presence of species found to be clearly related to substrate and hydrological zone. The results on differential conditions necessary for or favouring growth of various species are used in subsequent design of optimal spatial strategies of planting and restoration.