Meadow forage production and resource-saving methods for increas-ing the productivity of forage lands in Yakutia (review)

Abstract

The major sources of rough feed production in Yakutia are native hayfields and range lands, which provide 85 % of all feed. Natural grasslands and range lands occupy extensive grounds – 1.4 million hectares, of which 740 thousand hectares are hayfields and 670 thousand hectares are range lands. Grasslands of Yakutia are economically the most important source of sup-porting the agricultural sector and the livelihoods of the local population. The article analyzes the developed agritechnologies for improving grass and range lands of Yakutia and substantiates promising energy-saving methods for yield enhancement during land reforms. Currently, the research on the improvement and restoration of grass and range lands is focused on energy-saving, the use of renewable local resources and the biologization of grassland culture in order to increase the productivity and bulk feed quality. The analysis of the northern grassland culture development during the intensification has shown that the development of own seed multiplication system of released varieties and species of legume grasses makes it possible to introduce successfully energy-saving agritechnologies. The article proposes various methods of energy-saving in agritechnologies, such as: application of organic fertilizers, use of the released local varieties and species of perennial grasses, increase in the area of legume-grass plant formations for improving the feed quality and the use of multiple-function agricultural equipment for cost saving.