FCT UPorto
LAMESAT_XXI 
  "Ancestral irrigation management on seminatural mountain meadows using remote sensing"
PTDC/AGR-AAM/67182/2006

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lameiros
Metric
  In mountain regions of North and Centre of Portugal a variety of permanent semi-natural meadows exist, probably since the X or XI century, which are called “lameiros”. They are deeply inter-related with the agro-systems that characterize the traditional mountain agriculture. They are mainly distributed above 700 meters of altitude with high water availability, fertile soils and on variable ecological conditions, thus having a great cultural, landscaping and biodiversity value. 
 
  The “lameiros” have an interesting and ancestral wild irrigation, called “lima” irrigation, consisting of a fine water film that flows constantly during the winter, covering the entire soil surface. The process aims for thermal regulation of both soil and vegetation, preventing or reducing the freezing risks during the winter and spring seasons. These mountain meadows are usually classified by their water availability as irrigated meadows, imperfect irrigated meadows and non-irrigated meadows.
irrigation1
irrigation2