Surface of Permanent Grassland (%) indicator of EU (2020)

Permanent grassland is a herbaceous plant cover which has been settled for a number of years. It is characterized by a great variety of spontaneous plant species in an ecological balance under the combined effect of the environment and agricultural practices. These are essential for its sustainability (fertilization, grazing and mowing). It differs from sown grasslands by the absence of tillage and the limitation of phytosanitary products, which preserves the soil’s life and the numerous animal species it shelters. In some contexts, permanent grassland can be intensively managed by high mineral fertilization, which leads to an impoverishment of the number of species.