Table I.
Area of investigated grassland types for Lautaret (L) and Stubai (S) with soil hydrological properties at a depth of 0–0.3 m [field capacity (FC), gross pore volume (GPV), permanent wilting point (PWP)], evapotranspiration of grassland community May–October (ET) and vegetation type (data for Lautaret: Quetier et al. (2007), Obojes et al. (2014); data for Stubai: Obojes et al. (2014), unpublished measurements by the authors).
| Grassland type | Description | Area (ha) | FC (Vol%) | PWP (Vol%) | ET (mm d−1) | Plant community |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Previously cultivated terraces (1550–1950 m), now manured and mown for hay | 73.1 | 37 | 25 | 2.9–4.1 | Mown and fertilized meadows dominated by Dactylis glomerata, and Trisetetum flavescens |
| L2 | Previously cultivated terraces (1550–1950 m), now mown for hay but not manured | 118.1 | 40 | 23 | 2.8–3.5 | Mown meadows dominated by B. erectus and Sesleria caeruela |
| L3 | Previously cultivated terraces (1550–1950 m), now unmown and grazed in spring and autumn | 146.3 | 38 | 22 | 2.9–3.6 | Pastures with low management intensity dominated by B. erectus and S. caeruela |
| L4 | Never cultivated unterraced grasslands (1700–2000 m), currently mown for hay | 90.0 | 37 | 22 | 3.0–3.6 | Mown meadows dominated by Festuca paniculata, Meum athamanticum, and Trifolium alpinum |
| L5 | Never cultivated unterraced grasslands (1700–2000 m), summer grazed | 213.2 | 38 | 21 | 3.4–3.9 | Pastures of low management intensity dominated by F. paniculata and Festuca nigrescens |
| L9 | Steep and rocky slopes, grazed | 63.0 | 37 | 20 | 2.9–3.6 | Sloping pastures with very low management intensity dominated by B erectus, S. caeruela and several xeric species |
| S2 | Abandoned land | 113.0 | 40 | 20 | 3.8–6.9 | Abandoned meadow dominated by Luzula sylvatica, Geranium sylvaticum and Potentilla aurea, increasing abundance of Vaccinium sp. |
| S3 | Pasture | 28.0 | 37 | 21 | 3.8–7.2 | Pasture of high management intensity dominated by A. vulgaris, L. hispidus, and R. acris |
| S4 | Meadow of low land-use intensity (1100–1900 m), mown every 2 years, not manured | 6.5 | 37 | 20 | 4.1–7.2 | Mown meadows of low management intensity dominated by Leontodon hispidus, Agrostis capillaris, and Plantago lanceolata |
| S6 | Meadow of high land-use intensity (1600–1900 m), 1–2 mowings per year, manured | 7.5 | 37 | 20 | 4.1–7.2 | Mown and fertilized meadows of high management intensity dominated by Alchemilla vulgaris, A. capillaris, and Ranunculus acris |
| S8 | Meadow/pasture | 5.3 | 42 | 21 | 4.1–7.0 | Mown meadow and pasture of low management intensity dominated by A. vulgaris, A. capillaris, and R. acris |
| S9 | Larch meadow | 66.3 | 40 | 20 | 3.6–6.7 | Mown meadow of low management intensity with Larix decidua dominated by L. hispidus, A. capillaris, and P. lanceolata |