A Mechanisability Index to Evaluate the Potential of Alpine Pastures and Meadows in North-East of Italy

Management of pastures and meadows in the Alpine area of Northern Italy often implies mechanizable practices. In order to optimise and achieve economic sustainability of such practices, agricultural machinery implementation is needed. Thus, the present work introduces a methodology aimed to assess the potential for agricultural mechanisation of pastures and meadows based on rational and quantitative criteria. In particular, a mechanisability index is here proposed, based on GIS analysis of landscape parameters as mean and maximum slope, size, mean altitude, distance from the nearest road and shape regularity of the fields. For the scope, 11.093 fields in the Province of Trento were identified and considered to analyse their mechanisability potential. The results give evidence of a medium to low mechanisability potential of pastures and meadows in the area, the most limiting factors being elevated slopes, altitude and distance from roads. The methodology here reported might be applied to other mountainous areas, helping the decision-making processes of institutions and farmers.