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Production and nutritive value of forage in silvopastural systems can be improved by introducing shade‐ tolerant grass and legume species in appropriate mixtures. The management of these systems can present a challenge regarding the selection of the proper grass and legume species as well as the maintenance of the optimum balance between the two species in the grass–legume stand. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the performance of pure stands and mixtures (75:25, 50:50, 25:75) of Dactylis glomerata:Trifolium subterraneum under full sun, 60% shade and 90% shade. Dry matter production of D. glomerata was not affected by shading, while that of T. subterraneum was drastically reduced. Shading increased the crude protein (CP) and acid detergent lignin content, but did not affect the acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre content. The dry matter production of the 75:25 and 25:75 mixtures was higher compared to the one of the 50:50 mixture, while the CP content of the 75:25 mixture was the highest under moderate shading. However, relative yield, aggressivity index and competitive balance index indicated higher competitive ability for D. glomerata compared with T. subterraneum especially under shade. Therefore, the 25:75 mixture is suggested as the most suitable under moderate shade (60%), to perpetuate the stand and avoid the frequent re‐sowing of T. subterraneum.

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Most of Pinus brutia (Ten.) Holmboe forests are grazed, as silvopastoralism is well adapted in the Mediterranean environment. However, little attention has been paid to the demographic dynamic of the understorey vegetation even though it is strongly affected by the absorbed radiation. The purpose of this study was to examine the adaptation of herbaceous plant species under a Pinus brutia canopy, in Northern Greece. Monocultures of four plant groups (annual and perennial grasses, annual and perennial legumes) were sown in experimental areas of 50%, 70% and 100% light intensity. The density of annual and perennial grasses and perennial legumes were decreased by the shade cast by the Pinus brutia canopy. Population density of the annual legumes was little affected by light intensity: the annual grasses Bromus mollis L. and Lolium rigidum Gaudin; the perennial grasses Dactylis glomerata L. var. palestine, Festuca arundinacea and Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn; the perennial legume Medicago sativa L. var. romana; the annual legumes Medicago lupulina L. and all the tested varieties of Trifolium subterraneum adapted well to the 50% light intensity habitat.