Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists  
Series Agriculture, Silviculture and Veterinary Medicine Sciences  
Online ISSN 2344 – 2085  
Volume 15, Number 1/2026  
188  
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENT  
OF NATURA 2000 GRASSLAND HABITATS IN THE  
TRANSYLVANIAN PLAIN CONTINENTAL BIOREGION  
Teodor MARUSCA 1  
Abstract. The permanent grasslands of the Transylvanian Plain are composed of three  
major Natura 2000 habitats, namely: 6210 [Semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland  
facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometea) (*important orchid sites)], 6240*  
[Sub- pannonic steppe grasslands] and 6440*[ Alluvial meadows of the river valleys of  
the Cnidion dubii]. Habitat 6210, dominated by Festuca rupicola has a plant productivity  
of 9.38 t/ha green mass (GM) and 52.9 pastoral value index (PV), respectively animal  
productivity of 1,367 liters/ha cow milk or 127 kg/ha live weight gain in young bulls in  
160 days grazing season. Habitat 6240* degraded by Dicanthium ischaemum has a lower  
productivity expressed as 3.43 t/ha GM; 24.7 PV; 415 L/ha milk or 39 kg/ha spore.  
Habitat 6440 dominated by Agrostis stolonifera has higher plant and animal productivity,  
respectively 8.29 t/ha GM; 45.2 PV; 1145 L/ha milk and 108 t/ha weight gain in cattle  
during the same 160-day grazing season.  
Keywords: Natura 2000 grassland habitats, 6210, 6240*, 6440, plant and animal  
productivity  
DOI  
10.56082/annalsarsciagr.2026.1.188  
1. Introduction  
In addition to knowing the floristic composition of a grassland, which expresses  
the normal or degraded state of the vegetation, concrete data on green mass  
production (GM) and forage quality are necessary for the preparation of pastoral  
arrangements and the efficient management of this agricultural use [3].  
Determination of GM production is usually done by weighing on fenced sample  
areas in the case of grassland use through grazing and forage quality through  
laboratory chemical analysis.  
These procedures are difficult to carry out in the field, requiring high costs, so a  
new method based on floristic survey was used [4].  
Likewise, the floristic survey is the basis for determining the pastoral value (PV)  
which expresses the forage quality of the grassy carpet of a grassland.  
1Eng ., PhD . Teodor MARUȘCA - Research and Development Institute for Grasslands Brașov,  
Full Member of The Academy of Romanian Scientists , (e-mail: maruscat@yahoo.com ) .  
 
Contributions to the Productivity Assessment of Natura 2000 Grassland Habitats  
in the Transylvanian Plain Continental Bioregion  
189  
Through long-term experiments with animals during the grazing season, feed-  
animal product conversion indices were established, which completes the concept  
of productivity of a grassland.  
By determining milk production and live weight gain in young cattle and their  
economic value, the productivity of a permanent pasture is more clearly outlined.  
The present study complements our knowledge regarding the plant and animal  
productivity of Transylvanian grasslands.  
2. Material and methods  
To evaluate the productivity of grasslands in the Transylvanian Plain, the results  
of geobotanical research in this area were used [1].  
The working method was based on the floristic composition of grassland habitats  
to which forage value and production indices were applied [4, 7].  
Following this new method, many articles on vegetation productivity have been  
published in the Annals of the Romanian Academy of Sciences so far, so we will  
not return to its description [5, 6, 8, 11, 12].  
Animal productivity, expressed in cow's milk and live weight gain in young bulls,  
was evaluated through other indicators established in long-term experiments with  
animals on pastures [9, 10].  
Of particular importance are the conversion coefficients of green mass production  
into animal production, which are based on consumption indices for 1 liter of milk  
or 1 kg of live weight gain in cattle.  
The green fodder consumption index for 1 liter (L) of milk was calculated using  
the formula:  
GM consumption (kg) for 1 L milk = 9.5 – 0.05 x PV  
in which:  
GM (kg) = green fodder mass  
PV (ind.) = pastoral value  
This GM consumption for 1 liter of milk varies between 9 kg GM for those with  
very low PV to 4 kg GM for a PV index of 100.  
Cow milk production per hectare was calculated using the formula:  
Milk production (L/ha) = GM (kg/ha) / GM consumption (kg) for 1 L  
The GM consumption index (kg) for 1 kg of live weight gain in young bulls was  
calculated according to the formula:  
190  
Teodor Marușca  
GM consumption (kg) for 1kg gain = 100 – 0.5 x PV  
Similarly, the consumption of GM for 1 kg of live weight gain varies between 50  
kg GM for the maximum PV index of 100 to 100 kg GM for the lowest PV index.  
The production of growth (meat) in young bulls per hectare is calculated  
according to the formula:  
Crop production (kg/ha) = GM (kg/ha) / GM consumption (kg) for 1 kg crop  
After these calculations, depending on the category of cattle existing in the  
grazing season, dairy cows or young cattle, the economic value of a pasture can be  
assessed by multiplying milk production by 0.5 €/Liter and weight gain by 3.2  
€/kg, final indicators necessary for calculating the economic efficiency of raising  
these animals [MADR 2026].  
3. Results and discussions  
Following the analysis of grassland vegetation data, 3 grassland habitats  
corresponding to 3 phytosociological alliances were outlined [2]:  
•
•
•
H 6210 - Al. Festucion valesiacae Klika 1933  
H 6240* - Al. Cynosurion R.Tx 1947  
H 6440 – Al. Agrostion albae Soó 1943 (Table 1)  
Table 1. Floristic composition and plant productivity of the main grassland habitats in the  
Transylvanian Plain  
Indices  
Habitat  
6240*  
Species  
F
H
6210  
6440  
Grasses  
Festuca rupicola  
Agrostis capillaris  
Agrostis gigantea  
Lolium perenne  
Elymus hispidus  
Stipa capillata  
Dicanthium ischaemum  
Festuca valesiaca  
Agrostis stolonifera  
Glyceria plicata  
Cynodon dactylon  
Elymus repens  
Anthoxanthum odoratum  
Arrhenatherum elatius  
Briza media  
5
7
7
9
3
3
3
5
7
4
6
6
5
8
5
5
3
5
5
7
8
0
0
0
3
6
7
2
7
3
8
2
5
0
15.0  
11.4  
7.5  
3.9  
3.9  
16.0  
0.2  
16.0  
16.0  
5.5  
32.3  
10.8  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
Bromus hordeaceus  
Bromus sterilis  
Contributions to the Productivity Assessment of Natura 2000 Grassland Habitats  
in the Transylvanian Plain Continental Bioregion  
191  
Cynosurus cristatus  
Dactylis glomerata  
Echinochloa crus-galli  
Phleum phleoides  
Phleum pratense  
Festuca pratensis  
Poa annua  
Agropyron cristatum  
Brachypodium pinnatum  
Melica ciliata  
7
9
5
6
9
9
7
7
4
8
7
4
8
8
2
5
7
2
0
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
5
4
3
Glyceria maxima  
0.2  
Legumes  
Trifolium repens  
8
8
8
8
7
8
9
5
5
5
1
6
7
7
7
8
5
7
8
6
6
3
9
5
5
4
0
3
4
2
3
6
3.9  
3.9  
3.9  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
5.5  
0.2  
Trifolium pratense  
Onobrychis viciifolia  
Lotus corniculatus  
Medicago falcata  
Medicago lupulina  
Medicago sativa  
Astragalus austriacus  
Astragalus monspessulanus  
Astragalus cicer  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
Coronilla varia  
0.2  
0.2  
Trifolium alpestre  
Trifolium montanum  
Trifolium campestre  
Trifolium fragiferum  
Trifolium hybridum  
5.5  
0.2  
Other families  
Achillea millefolium  
Fragaria viridis  
Galium verum  
Plantago media  
Teucrium chamaedrys  
Achillea collina  
Carex humilis  
Potentilla cinerea  
Carex distans  
6
4
5
6
3
4
6
3
4
3
3
1
4
4
4
4
5
7
4
1
4
2
0
1
5
0
2
0
0
0
2
3
5
6
6
6
3.9  
3.9  
3.9  
3.9  
0.2  
0.2  
5.5  
0.2  
0.2  
5.5  
5.5  
5.5  
5.5  
0.2  
10.8  
10.8  
10.8  
5.6  
Carex riparia  
Eleocharis carniolica  
Ranunculus repens  
Ajuga genevensis  
Capsella bursa-pastoris  
Carex vulpina  
Centaurea phrygia  
Cichorium intybus  
Convolvulus arvensis  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
192  
Teodor Marușca  
Crepis biennis  
Daucus carota  
Hieracium pilosella  
Inula britannica  
4
6
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
6
5
7
4
5
5
4
4
4
3
5
5
4
1
5
3
3
3
2
1
3
1
3
2
2
4
5
6
3
5
3
2
5
7
4
2
5
0
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
Leucanthemum vulgare  
Leontodon autumnalis  
Leontodon hispidus  
Pimpinella saxifraga  
Plantago argentea  
Plantago lanceolata  
Plantogo major  
Polygala amara  
Polygonum aviculare  
Potentilla erecta  
0.2  
0.2  
Prunella vulgaris  
Ranunculus polyanthemos  
Rumex acetosa  
Rumex obtusifolius  
Sanguisorba minor  
Symphytum officinale  
Taraxacum officinale  
Thymus pulegioides  
Tragopogon orientalis  
Urtica dioica  
Verbena officinalis  
Veronica chamaedrys  
Crepis biennis  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
0.2  
7.8  
Other species (no. x 0.2)  
Specification  
19.8  
12.0  
Participation of forage species (%)  
Harmful species (%)  
Pastoral value (ind)  
Production of green mass (t/ha)  
75.7  
24.3  
52.9  
9.38  
44.6  
55.4  
24.7  
3.43  
64.8  
35.2  
45.2  
8.29  
The most cormophyte species, 207, were recorded at H 6240* (Cynosurion) and  
the fewest, 46 species at H 6440 (Agrostion albae) [1].  
The highest participation in the grassy carpet of 75% of forage species was  
recorded at H 6210 and the lowest of 44.6% at H 6240 *, which directly influences  
plant and animal productivity.  
Thus, in H 6210, a green fodder mass production (GM) of 9.38 t/ha and a pastoral  
value index (PV) of 52.9 was evaluated, and in the case of H 6240, only 3.43 t/ha  
GM and 24.7 PV, respectively 2-3 times lower.  
Based on the results regarding GM and PV plus the duration of the grazing season  
of 160 days, milk production and live weight gain in cattle were calculated  
(Table 2).  
Contributions to the Productivity Assessment of Natura 2000 Grassland Habitats  
in the Transylvanian Plain Continental Bioregion  
193  
Table 2. Cattle productivity in the 160-day grazing season on the main grassland habitats of the  
Transylvanian Plain  
GM  
consumption  
(kg)  
Milk  
production  
Growth  
production  
Natura  
2000  
habitat  
Pastoral  
value  
(ind.)  
GM  
production  
(t/ha)  
Animal  
loading  
(LU/ha)  
1 L  
milk  
1 kg  
extra  
L/ha  
%
Kg/ha  
%
6210  
6240*  
52.9  
24.7  
45.2  
40.9  
9.38  
3.43  
8.29  
7.03  
0.90  
0.33  
0.80  
0.68  
6.86  
8.26  
7.24  
7.45  
74  
88  
77  
80  
1,367  
415  
140  
43  
127  
39  
140  
43  
6440  
1,145  
976  
117  
100  
108  
91  
117  
100  
Average  
The average milk production of the habitats was 976 L/ha, with 140% (1,367 L) at H  
6210 and 43% (415 L) at H 6240, a difference of more than 3 times.  
The same results were also evaluated for live weight gain, namely 91 kg/ha on  
average, with 127 kg/ha for H 6210 and 39 kg/ha for H 6240, also over 3 times less.  
These economic results of milk production or weight gain serve as the final balance  
sheet of animal husbandry on grassland habitats used for grazing.  
Conclusions  
(1). The permanent grasslands of the Transylvanian Plain are particularly rich in  
cormophyte species.  
(2). The average plant productivity of Habitats H 6210, H 6240 and H 6440 is 7 t/ha  
green fodder mass (GM) and 40.9 pastoral value index (PV) being considered  
average.  
(3). The highest animal production was evaluated at H 6210 dominated by Festuca  
rupicola, with 1,367 L/ha of cow's milk or 127 kg/ha live weight gain in young bulls  
having 9.38 t/ha GM and 52.9 PV index, in a 160-day grazing season.  
*
(4). Lower animal production was assessed at H 6240  
degraded by Dicanthium  
ischaemum, with only 415 L/ha milk or 39 kg/ha weight gain, at a production of 3.43  
t/ha GM and 24.7 PV index.  
(5). The results on livestock production continue to serve in calculations of economic  
efficiency of pastoral habitats.  
194  
Teodor Marușca  
R E F E R E N C E S  
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Transylvanian Plan (Câmpia Transilvaniei) using satellite images, Kanitzia, Journal of Botany, 11:  
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Romania, Risoprint Publishing House, Cluj Napoca) (2008).  
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V. A., Ene T., Silistru Doina, Ichim E., Zevedei P., Constantinescu C., Tod S., Ghid de întocmire  
a amenajamentelor pastorale, Editura Capolavoro, Brașov ( Guide for setting up the pastoral  
amanagements, Capolavoro Publishing House, Brasov) (2014).  
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Romanian Journal of Grassland and Forage Crops BDI Nr. 19, Cluj – Napoca, pp. 33- 47, (2019).  
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Poiana Ruscă Mountains (South-West Romanian Carpathians), Annals of the Academy of  
Romanian Scientists Series Agriculture, Silviculture and Veterinary Medicine Sciences Volume 9,  
Number 1/2020, pp. 62-69 (2020).  
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Lăzărenilor Hills, Bihor County, Romania, Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists Series  
on Agriculture, Silviculture and Veterinary Medicine Sciences, Volume 10, Number 2, pp. 13-21,  
(2021).  
[7] Marușca T., Roman Anamaria, Taulescu Elena, Ursu T.M., Popa R. D., Detecting trends in the  
quality and productivity of grasslands by analyzing the historical vegetation relevés: A case study  
from Southeastern Carpathians, Vlădeasa Mountains (Romania), Notulae Botanicae Horti  
Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Volume 49, Issue 3 (2021).  
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Sciences, Volume 11, Number 1, pp. 38-44 (2022).  
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cattle during the grazing season of meadowlands, Oferta cercetării științifice pentru transfer  
tehnologic în agricultură, industria alimentară și silvicultură, vol. XXVIII, ASAS București (sub  
tipar) (2025).  
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la taurine ȋn sezonul de pӑşunat, Analele Academiei Oamenilor de Știință din România Seria  
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