Sustainable Management of Nardus stricta L. Grasslands in Romania’s Carpathians

Abstract

The grassland area of Romania covers over 4.8 million hectares, of which more than a half are located in upland areas. In the present research it has been studied the influence of organic fertilization on the productivity, vegetal canopy and fodder quality of the intramontane Depression of Vatra Dornei, from the North-Eastern Romanian Carpathians, at rates of 20-50 Mg ha-1, applied either on a yearly basis, or every two years. The purpose of this study is to underline the dynamics of productivity and phytocenosis biodiversity, due to the application of some practical, technical measures meant to improve the production and fodder quality of Nardus stricta L. permanent grasslands, with minimal effects on the environment. The organic fertilizer rates triggered changes in the canopy structure by reducing the percentage of Nardus stricta L species, from 70% to 14-31%, and increasing the percentage of legumes, as well as the productivity and fodder quality 5-30%, respectively.