MEADOW ASSOCIATIONS IN THE VASLUI RIVER BASIN (I)

This study presents a xeromesophyte meadow association in the basin of Vaslui river - Taraxaco serotinae - Festucetum valesiacae (Burduja et a2. 1956) Siirbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999, considering both its phytocoenoIogical characteristics and the aerial phytomass it produces.

Key words: phytocoenology, meadow vegetation, aerial phytomass.

The Vaslui river is located on the territory of both I a ~ i and Vaslui districts, having a total length of 66 km. Its hydrographic basin covers a surface of approximately 646 km2 [16]. In what concerns the habitat conditions, the climate is moderate continental, with an annual average temperature of 10.2 OC, and mean annual rainfall of 560.8 mm. The predominant winds are from north and northwest.

The study of the meadow vegetation was based on the phytosociological method of Braun-Blanquet. For calculation of the phytomass aerial made of us working procedures were taken over from the recent literature in the field [I, 4, 6,91.

Ass. Tmaxaco serotinae - Festucetum vdesiacae (Burduja et al. 1956) Skbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999

(Syn. Medicaginz - Festucetum valesiacae auct. rom., incl. Koelerietum macranthae R5v. et al. 1950).

The association belongs to suballiance Jurineo arachnoideae -

Euphorbinenion nicaeensis Dobrescu et Kovacs 1975 corr. Skbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999, within alliance Festucion valesiacae, Klika 193 1, order Festucetalia valesiacae Br. - Bl. et R. Tx. ex Br.-31. 1949, class Festuco-Brometea Br.-BI. et R. Tx. ex Klika et Hada5 1944 (Table 1).

The association stretches over plains or sunny and dry slopes, given a leached (degraded) chernozem soil, and has a 70-95% vegetation covering.

Due to the high anthropogenic and zoogenic impact (that is, overgrazing and conversion to agricultural land), the sites of this association can be found within limited boundaries, and grow even smaller.

Fields displaying the association are used as grazing land. If irrational grazing is allowed, conditions are created for the emergence of secondary xerophile associations, with a smaller number of species.

The floristic analysis of these phytocenoses reveals their heterogeneous composition, with a number of 133 species in the association, and an average of 3 1 species / relevd.

REV. ROUM. BIOL. -BIOL. VJ?GET., TOME 48, Nos 1-2, P. 95-104, BUCAREST, 2003

Table 1

Taraxaco serotinae - Festucetum valesiacae (Burduja e f al. 1956) Stibu, Coldea et Chifu 1999

Number of relev6 Altitude (m.s.m.) Exposition Cover ofthe vegetation (%) Surface (m2) Number of species

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 370 360 360 360 360 370 291 291 370 380 340 230 230 N NE W N SE SW N S NE NW E NW NW 85 80 80 80 85 95 90 80 80 95 70 95 80

100 50 100 29 47 22 18 22 22 42 47 32 25 26 34 28

Characteristics of association Tararacum serotinum 1 - + - - + - - + - 1 1 1 Jurineo arachnoideae-Euphorbinenion nicaeemis Euphorbia glareosa ssp. glareosa Echium maculatum Dianthus membranaceus Ajuga chamaepytis ssp. chamaeptis Astragalus dasyanthus Cleistogenes bulgarica Ajuga laxmanni Centaurea rnarschalliana Linurn austriacum Artemisia austriaca

+ - - + + I - - - + - - + - - + - - - + - + - - + - + - T I

- + - - + - - - + - -

- + + - - - + + - -

- - 1 + I - + - - + - -

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Festucion et Festucetalia valesiacae Festuca valesiaca Achillea setacea Galium hurnifusum Salvia nemorosa Centaurea biebersteinii

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(continued)

Rumex crispus Cerastium holosteoides Campanula patula Stachys osficimlis Agrostis stolonlfera Vicia cracca Ononis arvensis Bromus hordeaceus Cynosurus crzstatus Equisetum arvense Stellarietea mediae Lappula squarrosa Lathyrus tuberosus Stachys annua Artemisia annua Bromus arvensds Vicia villosa Rumex acetosella Centaurea cyanus Atriplex tatarica Nigella arvensis Anthemis cotula

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102 Irina Blaj 8

Next to the prevailing species, Festuca valesiaca, one notices the predominance of species characteristic of the Festucion valesiacae alliance, Festucetalia valesiacae order and to Festuco-Brometea class over the species characteristic of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Phytocenoses are also characterized by the presence of species from Stellarietea mediae and Artemisietea vulgaris classes.

The analysis of bioforms [3, 51 reveals that the highest share within the total species making up the association is taken by hemicryptophytes (H) with 63.85%, followed by therophytes (T) with 13.85%, hemitherophytes (Ht) with 12.30%, geophytes (G) with 5.38%, camephytes (Ch) with 3.07%, and phanerophytes (Ph) with 1.55% (Figure 1).

Ch, 3.07%

Fig. 1 - Biofoms spectrum.

The analysis of floristic elements 13, 51 shows the predominance of Eurasian elements (Euras.) with 50%, followed by European ones (Eur.) with 17.7%, pontic elements (Pont.) with 17.7%, cosmopolitan (Cosm.) with 5.38%, circumpolar (Circ.) with 5.38%, Mediterranean (Medit.) with 2.3%, and adventitious elements (Adv.) with 1.54% (Figure 2).

Adv.

Circ.

Cosm. Medil.

Euras.

E ur. Pont.

Fig. 2 -Floristic elements spectrum.

The analysis of ecological indices 181 highlights the presence of species with a low tolerance to shadow, moderately thermophile, xeromesophile, and which grow on neuter soils poor in mineral nitrogen (Figure 3).

9 Meadow associations in Vaslui River Basin (I) 103

L-light, T-temperature, Ct-continentality, U-humidity, R-pH, N- soil trophicity, based on &inera1 nitrogen contents

Fig. 3 - Ecological indices spectrum.

For determining the total quantity of phytomass, the aerial sections of the plants were collected, weighed (first green, and then dry, by bringing them to a constant weight at 105OC), without having them divided into systematic and economic groups. The samples were collected fiom three stations displaying different ecological conditions @obrov5& Emil Racovip and Protopopegti), and the following results were obtained:

The herbaceous species belonging to this association produces an average green phytomass of 2700 kg / ha and an average anhydrous phytomass (dry substance) of 640 kg / ha.

On the pastoral value scale, a number of 123.9 points is obtained, respectively, 30 estimation points, which places the meadows in the studied association within the category of poor pasture land (8" class) that may bear an optimum load of 0.41-0.60 UVM per hectare (UVM = large cattle units).

Tf systematic groups are considered, a significant quantity of phytomass is due to Gramineae, while Leguminosae plants bear a minor contribution, and the Cyperaceae and Juncaceae play an insignificant part.

It therefore results, both fiom establishing the pastoral value, and fiom the quantity of aerial phytomass obtained, that the meadows have a low productive value.

Station

Dobrovfit Emil Racovitz Protopopqti Association average 2700 640

Aerial phytomass (kglha) Green 3600 2900 1600

Anhydrous 960 520 440

104 Irina Blai 10

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Received November 2003. '21. I. Cuza" Universi~, Faculty of Biology, Iqi , Romania