Search
Search Results
-
Climatic impacts on the vegetation of horse pastures and hay meadows at the equestrian centre near Sukoro
31-42Views:170The study was conducted on the grassland areas of the Sukoró Equestrian Centre. Phytosociological surveys carried out in 2023 were repeated in 2024 on both the rocky grassland horse pasture and the hay meadow. The objective was to assess the extent to which year effects are reflected in vegetation patterns. The year 2023 represented a dry year, whereas 2024 was characterised by a wet year. Phytosociological data were collected using the Braun-Blanquet (1964) method, applying 2×2 m quadrats, with vegetation cover estimated as percentage values. Quadrats were placed randomly within the study sites. Four sampling areas were investigated. Three were hay meadows: (I) mesic hay meadow; (II) alkali grassland dominated by Festuca pseudovina; and (III) marsh meadow. The fourth sampling area (IV) was a siliceous rocky grassland used as a horse pasture, which remained ungrazed in 2023. Based on the results, increased moisture availability led to a higher abundance of species with greater nitrogen and water requirements in the mesic hay meadow (Alopecuro-Arrhenatheretum) and in the Achilleo setaceae Festucetum pseudovinae grassland. Classification analyses clearly demonstrated the year effect in these vegetation types. In contrast, relevés from the marsh meadow did not show a clear separation between the two years. In the rocky grassland, only the proportion of nitrogen-demanding species increased. Nature conservation–based analyses also revealed a distinct pattern for the marsh meadow, where the proportion of disturbance-tol erant species decreased, while it increased in the other three vegetation types. From a grassland management perspective, the abundance of economically important grasses (Poaceae) declined only in the marsh meadow, whereas it increased in the other three vegetation types, accompanied by higher forage value indices. Overall, with the exception of the inherently wet marsh meadow, the wetter conditions of 2024 had a positive and clearly detectable effect on the studied vegetation types.
-
Conservation survey of horse pastures and hayfields in an equestrian centre near Sukoro
37-46Views:324The test was carried out in Sukoró, on the lawns of the Sukoró Equestrian Center in May 2023. The purpose of the survey was to present the natural state and economic value of grasslands with different uses. The ceenological surveys were carried out using the Braun-Blanquet method, during which we recorded the data using 2x2 meter squares and gave the cover values in %. The squares were placed randomly in the given areas. During the survey, we analyzed five sample areas in three units. Our sample area I. is degraded fresh grassland, which was a horse pasture that was overgrazed in 2023, II. the sample area was a meadow dominated by sedge, which is utilized by mowing. The III. the sample area is Siki lawn dominated by Festuca pseudovina, which was also mowed. The IV. the deepest part of the mowing area, marsh meadow-fen, which is also used as a mowing area. Sample area V is silicate rock grassland, which is also grazed by horses, but was left alone in 2023.
With the exception of sample area I, which was intensively grazed in 2023, and therefore overgrazed by trampling, based on the tests, the natural state of the lawns remained valuable even after treatments, mowing and grazing. In the lawns, the largest proportion of elements of the native flora can be found. In the deeper spot on the mowing field, bog elements and the protected species Anacampts pyramidalis also appeared. A protected species, Allium sphaerocephalon, also occurred in the silicate rock lawn. The lawn management methods carried out by the riding center are suitable for maintaining the area's vegetation in a close-to-nature and long-term manner.