HIGH NATURE VALUE GRASSLANDS FROM ARRHENATHERION ALLIANCE IDENTIFIED IN MUREŞ COUNTY

Abstract

Arrhenatherion alliance meadows are recognized to be among the best pastures in our country due to high productivity and good nutrition value. The research was conducted in several areas of Mures County. The studied grasslands were classified into two types of Natura 2000 habitats: 6510 Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) and 6520 Mountain hay meadows. The identified phytocoenosis belong to two plant associations: Arrhenatheretum elatioris Br.-Bl. Ex Scherrer 1925 and Poo Trisetetum flavescentis (Knapp 1951) Oberd. 1957. The analysis of data collected in the field reveals that the current state of conservation of the two types of habitat is good and very good. Habitats in a good and very good state of preservation is distinguish by a great floristic composition: approx. 100-150 cormophyte species with good and very good forage value. As habitats are more susceptible to the management applied and any changes to land use can affect habitat quality (eg abandoning mowing and turning the land into pasture), the ecological functions of this habitat will be satisfied as long as they are mowed after Poaceae species matured.

Keywords

• grasslands, habitats, Mureş County, Transylvania