FLOWERING OF SPRING HERBS IN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SLOVAKIAN SKI RESORT - DONOVALY

Effect of Machine Made (MM) snow on the vegetation was examined by the various works but only a few of them were focused on the relation towards the vegetation development of the early flowering spring herbs. To assess this impact, the snowpack characteristics (depth, density, duration), soil temperature and phenology of five herbs (beginning of flowering) were identified on the plot treated by MM snow and on the control plot with untreated natural snow. Research took place in the ski resort Donovaly - Zahradiste (Western Carpathians) during winter season 2015-2016 and continued during vegetation period of 2016. Results showed higher average density and depth of the treated snowpack, while at the end of the winter, there were 26 more days with snow on the treated plot. Changed snowpack properties influenced topsoil temperature and consequently postponed beginning of flowering of all observed herbs. Crocus discolor starts to bloom first in the season with a delay of six days on the treated plot. These results showed that snowpack characteristics changed by human activity can significantly influence soil temperature and vegetation development on the ski slope what could be useful for management and protection of the meadow ecosystems used for recreation.