LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THE TECHNOLOGIES AND RATIONAL USE OF NARDUS STRICTA SUBALPINE PASTURES FROM THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS

Between 1996 and 2020, in the Bucegi Mountains at 1,800 m altitude, 4 variants for improving subalpine grasslands degraded by Nardus stricta (40-60%) were investigated, namely A: control; B: chemical fertilization 3 years, followed by night paddocking once every 6 years; C: fertilization identical to B on soil amended in 1995 with lime dust and D: grassland sown in 1995, amended identical to C and fertilized identical to B and C. Each variant was used for 85 days by grazing with cows, and the milk production was recorded. The best variant on 25 years average was D (fertilized, amended, sown) where 5.51 t/ha SU and 4,640 liters of milk per hectare were recorded. The effect of amendment was 18-34% (variant C and D) and of the sown grassland (D) was of 14% to variant B, improved only by fertilization. Averaged over 25 years, the improvement works cost 4 Eurocents per liter of milk, representing 9.5% of the average milk price in 2022 of the European Union (42 Eurocents/Liter), our improvement works and usage with dairy cows having a high economic efficiency. Calcareous amendment lasts over 25-30 years and the sown grassland in subalpine conditions has an effect of about 20 years. Research will continue until the effect of calcium amendment is stopped, which is the most important improvement factor next to organo-mineral fertilization