I. A. Shipilov, O. V. Khonina
North-Caucasus Federal Scientific Agrarian Center, ul. Nikonova, 49, Mikhailovsk, Shpakovskii r-n, Stavropol’skii krai, 356241, Russian Federation
Abstract. The research aimed to increase productivity and improve herbage composition of natural and old-sown forage lands with an evidence-based mode of their economic use. The work was carried out in 2019–2021 in the zone of unstable moisture in the Stavropol Territory. The climate was moderate continental. The hydrothermal index was 1.09. The average annual rainfall was 560 mm. The soil cover of the study area was represented by leached solonetzic chernozem. The economic use of improved herbage, based on controlled grazing in the pasture rotation system during the entire vegetation period of grasses, ensured not only grazing of animals, but also the preparation of roughage feed without damage to grazing. Growing perennial grasses such as alfalfa, sainfoin, brome, wheatgrass, and bluegrass in the pasture rotation system makes it possible to produce high-quality feed with a content of 1 feed unit up to 13.9-17.4% of crude protein and up to 8.8-12.4 MJ metabolic energy. Compliance of pasture rotation based on control grazing makes it possible to use rationally land and bring the dry matter yield in years with a moisture deficit to 2.2-3.9 t/ha and in years with sufficient moisture level up to 3.6-5.9 t/ha, feed units up to 2.5-2.8 and 4.1-4.5 thousand/ha respectively, metabolic energy – up to 20.1-32.0 and 30.0-52.2 GJ/ha. Alternate hay-pasture use of fodder lands makes it possible to use the herbage before the onset of a stable snow cover. This technique allows to prevent overloading of pastures, increase biodiversity and productivity of the restored steppe herbage.
Keywords: pasture; haymaking; improvement; pasture rotation; mode of use; productivity.
Author Details: I. A. Shipilov, Cand. Sc. (Agr.), leading research fellow (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); O. V. Khonina, Cand. Sc. (Agr.), leading research fellow.
For citation: Shipilov IA, Khonina OV [Effective modes of using improved hayfields and pastures in the pasture rotation system] Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2022;36(5):21-5. Russian. doi: 10.53859/02352451_2022_36_5_21.