Description
Wet meadows appear at first glance as normal mowable lawns. However, when one examines them closely, it becomes evident that the floristic species present are not the same. This diversity is essentially determined by the fact that wet meadows, compared to mowable meadows, are characterised by a greater presence of water in the soil.
The high soil moisture content strictly conditions plant life, which is represented here by hydrophilic (moisture-loving) species. Wet meadows generally occupy the flat portions of valley floors or plateaus and are established on land where the water table is superficial, sometimes along ditches and streams. Different types of plant communities are present in the wet meadows of Trentino. One of the most common is characterised by meadow grass, another by goldenrod and meadowsweet. Wet meadows are environments that are seriously threatened due to anthropic interventions. In fact, they are considered unproductive areas, as the grass obtained by mowing has little nutritional value. Another source of threat to the survival of wet meadows is the abandonment of traditional haymaking, which rapidly leads to the degradation of the floristic composition of these environments and the progressive reconstitution of the forest.
Taken from the Valdaonexperience website