Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The stand in the surrounding area of the flux tower was coppiced about
15 years ago; its average stand height is around 9 m and the density of the stumps
is about 1,200 ha
−
1
.
2.2.12 Malga Arpaco (IT-Mal)
Tesino Upland is located in the eastern part of Valsugana, in the southern part of
external Dolomites; its Northern border is marked by the Lagorai mountains
(2,700 m). The study site is located on a farm (Malga Arpaco) at 1,730 m.a.s.l.
(46.11402° N; 11.70334° E), near Passo Brocon, it is a seasonality pasture (alpeg-
gio) with pasture times from the beginnings of June to the end of August (around
100 days). The climate in the southern part of Dolomites is influenced by the
Adriatic sea, while in the northen part it is more continental; the annual rainfall is
about 1,100-1,550 mm concentrated in spring (May-June) and in autumn (October-
November); the average temperature is lower than 0 °C from December to March.
The examined pasture is in the inferior alpine horizon. This vegetation layer
is the upper limit of the microtherrmal Fagus forest and it may be constituted by
Picea in the lower part and by Larix in the higher part. In this area, human activity
changed the original vegetation to pastures and grasslands by cutting the forests,
while in other sites the alpine pastures are typically above the upper tree vegeta-
tion line. The soil is an alfisol, sandy-loam and a Typic Hapludalfs (FAO
2008
).
The Malga Arpaco pasture results to be sufficiently used, without bushes, pas-
turing paths, erosion; yet, the negative effects of understocking begin to appear,
as evidenced by the existence of some limited overpastured areas surrounded by
Deschampsia
spp. and
Cirsium
spp.
From the floristic survey the grassland resulted to be composed predominantly
by good fodder Poaceae (genera
Festuca
,
Poa
,
Phleum
), reduced by pasturing in
summer; yet, the area shows, at least in some parts, the specific composition of a
mid-damp and degraded grassland, with nitrophilous species, and the signs of a
strong use, in transition from a grassland to an unrationally grazed pasture.
2.2.13 Monte Bondone (IT-MBo)
The study site was located at 1,550 m.a.s.l. on a mountain plateau in the Italian
Alps (Viote del Monte Bondone, 46.01468° N; 11.04583° E). The average annual
air temperature is 5.5 °C with monthly averages ranging from
−
2.7 °C in January
to 14.4 °C in July. The average annual rainfall is 1,189 mm, with peaks in June
(132 mm) and October (142 mm); snow cover occurs between November and
April. The area is managed as an extensive meadow dominated by
Festuca rubra
L. (basal cover of 25 %),
Nardus stricta
L. (basal cover of 13 %) and
Trifolium
sp. (basal cover of 14.5 %), which represents a typical low productivity meadow
of the alpine region. The maximum canopy height at the peak of the growing
