Revegetation of ski slopes on a calcareous scree in an area of Italian Alps.

Revegetation of ski slopes is an important practice useful to reduce soil erosion, to prolong snow coverage and to restore ski slopes with minimal environmental impact. Mixtures of forage species are traditionally used in a very wide context of situations, differing for altitude and pedoclimatic conditions. The aim of the work was to present results of ski slope revegetation from a ski resort of Italian Eastern Alps (Sappada, Veneto) where slopes occur on a calcareous scree of dolomitic origin. Different species (grasses, legumes and species belonging to other botanical families) in pure stand and in mixtures (differing in floristic richness, types of used species and cost) were tested for their ability to restore the inclined surfaces. Data collection concerned soil coverage, botanical composition and evolution of vegetal composition in a four years trial. Results showed the different behaviour of single species, the possibility of obtaining efficient soil coverage with all studied mixtures (always increasing in the trial period and over 80% at the fourth year) and the competitive attitude of some sown species against colonisation by native vegetation. Obtained data have used afterwards to improve commercial mixtures or to create new ones suitable to this particular environment.