Lowland Hay Meadows

Lowland Hay Meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) (HT 6510)

Extensively managed meadows: moderately fertilised and mowed once or twice per year. Soils are moist to wet and particular site are flooded.

Characteristic plant species: Arrhenatherum elatius, Alopecurus pratensis, Poa pratensis, Dactylis glomerata agg., Festuca pratensis, Holcus lanatus.

The major threats to this habitat type on Ljubljana Marsh are: overuse of fertilizers (ruderalisation of sites), abandonment of mowing (e.g., in succession certain species can spread: Calamagrostis epigejos or invasive alien species), higher frequency of mowing (altered species composition; additional use of fertilizer and lime is needed), baling of hay in a plastic foil.

Lowland Hay Meadows, Photo: Seliškar A.