Teodor MARUȘCA1*, Monica NEBLEA2, and Monica A. TOD1
1 Brașov Grassland Research-Development Institute, Strada Cucului no. 5, 500128, Brașov, Romania
2 University of Pitești, 1 Târgul din Vale Street, 110040, Pitești, Romania
*Corresponding author: maruscat@yahoo.com
Abstract
The permanent grasslands of the Leaota Mountains and the western side of the Bucegi Mountains located at 700–2130 m altitude from a phytosociological point of view belong to the Juncetea trifidi, Nardo-Calunetea, Seslerietea albicantis and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea classes, with 4 orders, 7 alliances and 9 plant associations. Vegetation coverage was on average 76% and the number of cormophyte species in reliefs was 44, being quite high. The participation of species with forage value in the 9 associations was 31%, quite low, with a poor pastoral value (17.8) and low production of green mass (1.7 t/ha). The most valuable association was Scorzonero rosae – Festucetum nigricantis with 41.2 (average) pastoral value and 7.52 t/ha (middle) green mass. Productions of 2–3 t/ha green mass are achieved in the associations Asperulo capitatae – Seslerietum rigidae and Seslerio haynaldianae – Caricetum sempervirentis, in the remaining 6 associations it was evaluated below one ton per hectare. Finally, at the phytosociological level, an average of 1020 liters of milk/ha was evaluated in 95 days of grazing season with variations from 200 l/ha at Molinietalia to 2040 l/ha at Seslerietalia albicantis. The productivity of the grasslands in the study area is very low due to the degradation of the grassy carpet.
Keywords:
Leaota and Bucegi Mountains; permanent grasslands; pastoral value; milk production