Evaluation of the Productivity of Subalpine and Alpine Pastures in the Râiosu and Buda Mountains, Făgăraş Massif

The subalpine and alpine pastures of Râiosu and Buda Făgăraș are located between 1,700 and 2,200 m altitude on soils with rocks on the surface, the average slope inclination of 30 degrees (9-50), average number of cormophytes 30 (16-44) and an average vegetation cover of 51% (27-66) of which with fodder value 21% and harmful 30%. The best results were evaluated in the associations Seslerio haynaldianae - Caricetum sempervirentis with 31 pastoral value index (VP), 2.4 t/ha green mass (GM), a load of 0.52 LU /ha in 70 days of grazing, the association Scorzonero roseae - Festucetum nigricantis with 16.5 PV and 2 t/ha GM, the association Poëtum mediae with 24.2 PV and 1.7 t/ha GM. In the rest of the associations with PV mostly below index 2, GM productions below 1 t/ha with a load of below 0.2 LU/ha in 50-70 days of grazing season with very low productivity. These data are used in particular to establish the optimal animal load in the grazing season for the conservation of biodiversity. Milk production per hectare was assessed at the level of Natura 2000 Grassland Habitats and reaches an average of 620 liters per hectare. In Habitat 6,170 milk production is 39% higher and in degraded Habitat 6520 40% lower than average, data that are used in the economic evaluation of subalpine and alpine grasslands in the study area.