Perennial Grass Mixtures Research Articles

Optimization of Productivity of Fodder Crops with Green Conveyor System in the Context of Climate Instability in the North Kazakhstan Region

One of the main challenges in modern animal husbandry in North Kazakhstan is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of sufficient fodder crops. This research, conducted from 2019 to 2023, aimed to develop strategies for cultivating environmentally sustainable fodder crops capable of providing a stable fodder crop base under the changing climatic conditions of the North Kazakhstan region. The studies included analysis of air temperature and precipitation data as well as monitoring of fodder grass mixtures within a green fodder conveyor system. Different sowing dates for fodder crops and mixtures were selected for the development of the conveyor system. The range of experimental variants included fodder crops and their mixtures from various botanical families. The experiment involved both perennial (alfalfa and festulolium) and annual (corn, pea, sunflower, Sudan grass, oats, and rapeseed) crops. The highest green mass yields were achieved by the following variants: fodder crops of corn + pea—74.40 c/ha; mixtures of annual legume–grass crops in the pea + oats variant of the first sowing date—43.64 c/ha; Sudan grass + pea—45.72 c/ha; mixtures of perennial grasses in the second utilization term of alfalfa + festulolium—64.9 c/ha; and rapeseed sown at the first sowing date—46.61 c/ha. In terms of crude and digestible protein content, the best among the annual grass variants was the mixture of Sudan grass and pea (crude protein—33.59 g/kg, digestible protein—24.5 g/kg), and the best among the perennials was the variant of the first utilization term (crude protein—50.42 g/kg, digestible protein—38.2 g/kg). Regarding metabolizable energy content, the annual crop variant of corn + pea had a yield of 1.92 MJ/kg, and in the perennial variant, the mixture of alfalfa and festulolium in the first utilization term had a yield of 2.68 MJ/kg. Such an approach to creating green fodder conveyors can be crucial for developing effective strategies for adapting agriculture to climate change, including the selection of promising fodder crops and optimization of their placement. The results obtained can contribute to enhancing the productivity and sustainability of agricultural production in the North Kazakhstan region.

The method of distributing the costs of growing perennial non-bloodless grasses by types of products

The introduction of modern technologies for growing perennial grasses in feed production has caused the need to improve the methodology for allocating costs by product type. The article describes the current method of distributing the costs of cultivation. The problems of distribution of these costs are revealed. It is proposed to open two analytical accounts for the sowing of a grass mixture of perennial uncovered grasses for a more accurate distribution of costs in the future, in the year of sowing: «The cost of tillage and sowing of perennial grasses», «The cost of caring for crops and harvesting perennial grasses». A new method of cost allocation by types of perennial herb products has been developed.

The method of distributing the costs of growing perennial non-bloodless grasses by types of products

The introduction of modern technologies for growing perennial grasses in feed production has caused the need to improve the methodology for allocating costs by product type. The article describes the current method of distributing the costs of cultivation. The problems of distribution of these costs are revealed. It is proposed to open two analytical accounts for the sowing of a grass mixture of perennial uncovered grasses for a more accurate distribution of costs in the future, in the year of sowing: «The cost of tillage and sowing of perennial grasses », «The cost of caring for crops and harvesting perennial grasses». A new method of cost allocation by types of perennial herb products has been developed.

A comparative analysis of perennial grass–legume mixtures for biomethane production

Examining the case of Lithuania, this study comparatively analyzed five perennial grass–legume mixtures in terms of biomethane production. Every mixture was divided into two parts: long (during the fifth year or beyond) and short (during the first four years) time periods. The analysis includes three types of perennial bell grass: Timothy, P. Ryegrass, C. Cocksfoot, and one legume grass Red clover. With this study, we aimed to evaluate how perennial grass–legume mixtures can promote biomethane uptake in Lithuania. Through analyzing the efficiency and consequences of government subsidy measures, this study aimed to address the question of how governmental assistance can promote the growth of the biomethane industry, specifically focusing on the utilization of perennial grass–legume mixtures. This study used seven financial indicators, including subsiding policy, in order to gain a deeper understanding of mixtures for biomethane production. The analysis revealed that the best mixtures for biomethane production with subsidies were the second (Red clover 35 % + Timothy 45 % + Ryegrass 20 % grass mixture) and fourth scenarios (Red clover 55 % + Ryegrass 45 % grass mixture). The first (Red clover 35 %. + Timothy 25 % + Ryegrass 20 % + Cocksfoot 20 % grass mixture), third (Red clover 55 % + Timothy 45 % grass mixture), and fifth scenarios (Red clover 55 % + Cocksfoot 45 % grass mixture) had the smallest positive effects. The results showed that, in Lithuania, in order to encourage farmers to produce biomethane, subsidy policies are needed. Incentives for engaging with this activity are necessary, as the income earned does not cover the costs incurred; unfortunately, biomethane production is unprofitable without subsidy. As such, our recommendation is to develop a long-term subsidy policy to promote biomethane production, focusing on the effectiveness, particularly in the Lithuanian context, of utilizing mixtures of perennial grasses. Further research and policy interventions are needed to address the opportunities associated with scaling synergy between perennial energy cops and environmental sustainability in bioenergy crop cultivation.

Reducing industrial inputs – a prerequisite for the transition to sustainable agriculture

This article provides the results of a long-term field experiment carried out at the ICC "Selectia" with the aim of studying the influence of irrigation and fertilisation on the production capacity and productivity of the soil and, at the same time, on soil fertility. Another long-term field experiment aimed to study the action and interaction of crop rotation, tillage, and fertilisation systems in the absence of chemical means of disease, pest and weed control. As a result, it was found that winter wheat responds to irrigation, unlike sugar beet, which responds more to soil fertilisation. Grain maize does not react to crop rotation and fertilisation. Irrigation reduces organic matter content throughout the soil profile. By following the crop rotation with the inclusion of perennial grass mixtures it is possible to reduce the costs of tillage and the use of mineral fertilisers. The additional use of mineral fertilisers as a result of the action or the effect of manure management in the soil is not agronomically and economically justified.

Assessment of the impact of methods of biologization of the agrocenosis of apple trees (<i>Malus domestica</i> Borkh.) on soil fertility and plant productivity

The influence of methods of biologization of the agrocenosis of the orchard, including soil blackening with cereal-legume mixtures of perennial grasses in combination with the introduction of biofertilizers of various spectrum of action, on soil fertility and productivity of apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) has been studied. The study was carried out in a two-factor long-term field experiment on meadow soils of the Salgir River valley (Republic of Crimea). It was revealed that the biologization of the agrocenosis of the apple tree contributed to the enrichment of the soil with organic matter, increased the content of its active components, led to the accumulation of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium with a slight decrease in the content of nitrate nitrogen in the soil. At the same time, the concentration of nutrients in the leaves of the apple tree, including nitrogen, increased. All this contributed to an increase in the yield of fruits. Quantitative relationships between indicators of soil fertility and productivity of apple trees have been revealed. The obtained dependencies allowed us to build a model of productivity of Golden Delicious apple trees during the biologization of its agrocenosis. The most effective combination of the studied methods of biologization is the use of soil blackening with a cereal-bean mixture 3 (CBM3) with bacterization of the root system of an apple tree with a nitrogen-fixing strain (NFS).

Cultivation of forage maize in boreal conditions – Assessment of trade-offs between increased productivity and environmental impact

The cultivation of whole crop forage maize (Zea mays L.) for cattle feed has a potential for increased forage yield while reducing nitrogen (N) fertilisation compared to perennial grass-based systems. However, the possible environmental trade-offs of forage maize cultivation remain unknown in the boreal region due to the short growing season which limits cultivation practices. The aim of this study was to compare the environmental impact of forage maize with more widely cultivated forage crops in Finland that include perennial silage grass mixtures and whole crop spring cereal harvested as silage. The use of plastic mulch film in forage maize cultivation was included in the assessment as well. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted including impact categories for global warming potential; marine and freshwater eutrophication; terrestrial acidification; freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecotoxicity; land use; and fossil resource depletion. Additionally, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes under long-term cultivation of the studied forage crops were simulated with the C-TOOL and Yasso20 models with methodological comparisons. The only clear differences between the studied crops were that the land use was lower (−26–48%) for forage maize, and the freshwater eutrophication (+59–67%) and terrestrial acidification (+10–57%) were higher for perennial grasses compared with other forages. A risk for decreased SOC stock under continuous forage maize cultivation was observed. Forage maize could be used to supplement perennial grass cultivation without major associated environmental risks. Future research shall be conducted on the effect of forage choices on the environmental impact of boreal dairy milk production and on decreasing the current high uncertainty associated with nitrous oxide (N2O) emission factors and SOC stock modelling choices.

Soil Chemical Properties and Microbial Behavior under Short-Term Organic and Mineral Fertilization within Different Crops

Agronomic practices can have a negative impact on soil health and quality and ecosystem resilience. The objectives of the study were (1) to evaluate the soil chemical properties and microbial abundance under short-term application of organic and mineral fertilizers and different cultivated crops and (2) to observe the antifungal efficacy of microorganisms isolated from the studied soil. A field trial was conducted in the 2021–2022 period on a preluvosoil-type soil in four randomized blocks with eight fertilizer treatments based on manure compost (MC) and MC + mineral fertilizer (V1—control-soil; V2—NPK only; V3—15 t/ha MC; V4—15 t/ha MC + NPK; V5—30 t/ha MC; V6—30 t/ha MC + NPK; V7—60 t/ha MC; and V8—60 t/ha MC +NPK) and four crops (winter wheat—Triticum aestivum L., maize—Zea mays L., soybean—Glycine max L., and a mixture of perennial grasses and legumes). In almost all treatments, the soil pH decreased during the summer–autumn period. The organic carbon (Corg) and humus contents increased compared to the initial state of the soil after the application of different doses of MC and MC + NPK fertilization in almost all treatments. The microbial load of the soil was influenced by the fertilization regime and crop species, but there were no significant differences between the variants. The highest bacterial load was recorded in soil cultivated with a mixture of perennial grasses and grain legumes, i.e., in the variant with 15 t/ha MC, followed by soil cultivated with maize and fertilized with 30 t/ha and 60 t/ha MC. A higher number of fungi was observed in the mixture of perennial grasses and legumes, and Rhizobium population was higher, especially in the winter wheat plots, despite the fertilization regime. The antifungal efficacy of the microorganisms isolated from the samples was medium to low, except in the winter wheat experiment, where the efficacy against Fusarium culmorum was medium to high and against other pathogens was medium. In the other crops within the experiment, the antagonistic activity of the soil microorganisms was medium to low.

Performances of Some Perennial Legume and Grass Mixtures under Rainfed Conditions of a Continental Climate Region

Forage yield and the quality of the pastures in Turkey, especially in Central Anatolia, where the continental climate is dominant, are very low, and their vegetation is degraded to a great extent due to use without proper management practices. The inadequacy of the forage crop production in agricultural land and the low yield and quality of forage are among the main problems of husbandry. The present study aimed to determine perennial legume and grass mixtures with high forage yield and quality under rainfed conditions of the continental climate region in Turkey. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. In the experiment, smooth brome (SB), intermediate wheatgrass (IW), alfalfa (A), sainfoin (S), and lesser burnet (LB) were sown as pure and mixed in different ratios. Two years averaged values of dry matter yield and crude protein, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) contents of dry matter varied between 2613 and 6268 kg ha-1;118 and 205 g kg-1; 249 and 424 g kg-1, 416 and 558 g kg-1, respectively. Higher dry matter yields were obtained from A+S+IW+SB, S+LB+IW+SB, A+LB+IW+SB, S+IW, and A+IW+SB mixtures. The pure sowings of the SB, IW, and LB gave lower dry matter yields than the mixtures. Crude protein contents of alfalfa and sainfoin were higher than other pure sowings and mixtures. The ADF and NDF contents of mixtures were higher than those of pure sown of alfalfa, sainfoin, and lesser burnet, they were lower than those of IW and SB. In terms of dry matter yield, crude protein yield, ADF and NDF content, A+S+IW+SB, A+LB+IW+SB, and S+LB+IW+SB mixtures were superior to other mixtures and pure sowings. Alfalfa may be predominant in mixtures over time, and animal health problems may occur under grazing conditions. Therefore, the mixtures of A+S+IW+SB and A+LB+IW+SB can be recommended for mowing, while the S+LB+IW+SB mixtures can be recommended for grazing.

PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY, PRODUCTIVITY, AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF MOWING AND GRAZING PHYTOCENOSES DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES COMPOSITION OF GRASSES

Studies of the photosynthetic activity of perennial grass mixtures allow for describing the peculiarities of the formation of perennial grass species forage productivity in the dry steppe zone. The study aimed to evaluate the cumulative effect of perennial cereal and legume grasses as part of complex grass mixtures on photosynthetic activity, productivity, and nutritional value of mowing and grazing phytocenoses. Adapting multicomponent grass created from various species of perennial grasses to the continental climate of the steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan commenced, capable of resisting biotic and abiotic stresses due to biological characteristics and positively influencing other species in the phytocenoses. The study determined photosynthetic activity, the yield of green and dry masses, dry matter content, crude protein, metabolizable energy of natural pasture, single-species sowing of awnless brome, and multicomponent grass mixtures. The communal herbage obtained as a result of the study contained a large amount of crude protein (20.6%–24.7%), crude fat (2.0%–4.2%), crude fiber (18.0%–22.7%), crude ash (7.1%–7.7%), and nitrogen-free extractive substances (35.0%– 44.1%). The results further enunciated that the perennial grass herbage in question had an average photosynthetic potential of 1,450,330 m2×day ha-1 in single-species awnless brome crops, while in grass mixtures the said potential was higher, ranging from 1,510,250 to 1,815,250 m2×day ha-1. The authors concluded that it was necessary to create mowing and grazing fields composed of productive and stable perennial grass mixtures on degraded pasture lands to increase available forage for farm animals and improve the system's resistance to adverse conditions.

Environmental aspects of mineral fertilizing of perennial grass mixtures on drained organic soils

Environmental protection and effective use of floodplain organic soils of river valleys in the humid zone is associated with the development of sustainable agrosystems, in which 65–75% of the sown area is allocated to perennial grasses. The main measure in the technology of growing perennial grass mixtures is the introduction of mineral fertilizers. The conducted studies show that the highest yield of perennial grass mixtures on average for 2016–2019 was obtained with the introduction of recommended doses of fertilizers obtained on the basis of perennial studies (N45P45K120) — 8.9 t/ha, and with the addition of 2 l/ha Organic Balance — 9.4 t/ha of dry mass; for the yield of 8.5 t/ha for the calculated dose of fertilizers to increase the yield of herbs N45P84K150 and 8.3 t/ha for the calculated dose for the planned yield taking into account the content of nutrients in the soil N45P138K293. Therefore, the most economically profitable and scientifically justified application of mineral fertilizers to crops of perennial grasses obtained on the basis of long-term scientific data, taking into account soil, climatic and weather conditions. In addition, the introduction of different doses of mineral fertilizers led to their corresponding leaching into the drainage waters, the leaching of NO3 during the growing season in the version with the recommended dose of fertilizers was 12.3 mg/l, and in the version with the introduction of mineral fertilizers for crop growth (N45P84K150) increased leaching into groundwater up to 17.2 mg/l of water. Thus, the economic and ecological evaluation of determination of doses of mineral fertilizers calculated by various methods showed that it is most expedient to determine calculations based on data obtained in long-term studies on crops of perennial grasses.

Agrobiological principles of environmental protection and efficient use of drained organic soils under climate change

Goal. To determine the optimal parameters of the combination of reclamation, agricultural, and nature protection solutions to ensure the sustainable development of agricultural production in the humid zone on drained soils. To develop measures aimed at reduction of the degradation of organic soils and improvement of their fertility based on the sound environmental protection system of agriculture and energy-saving technologies for growing crops in conditions of global climate change. Methods. Field with a complex of the biometric, agrochemical, and laboratory research, mathematical and statistical. Results. On old arable well-mineralized carbonate drained organic soils, the creation of nature-preserving agro-landscapes with a yield of 9–10 t/ha of feed units of high-quality fodder from perennial grass mixtures; 8.4–8.7 t/ha of corn grain and more than 4 t/ha of winter rye and triticale grain will ensure the introduction of 8-field crop rotations with 5–6 fields of perennial grass mixtures and 2–3 annual crops with the application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of P40–45 K120–130 kg of acting substance under annual crops and with the addition of N45 under perennial grasses, which helps reduce the mineralization of organic matter and accumulation of mobile nitrogen compounds under crops of perennial grass mixtures. In addition, nutrients are more intensively leached into groundwater by growing annual crops compared to perennial grasses, which is an important conservation measure when creating crop rotations. Conclusions. Such crop rotations and fertilizers provide a reduction in the accumulation of nitrate compounds in the 0–30 cm soil layer by 2–3 times, which is evidenced by a significant decrease in peat mineralization and its leaching into soil and river waters.

Формування сіяних лучних фітоценозів Передкарпаття залежно від удобрення

Goal. To reveal the peculiarities of the formation of elements of the productivity of perennial grasses in hay-type grass mixtures depending on the level of mineral fertilization. Methods. Field — to establish the level of productivity of the grass stand; visual and weight — to establish phenological changes in the growth, development, and productivity of the grass stand; statistical methods, dispersion, and factorial — to determine the probability of data. Results. The reaction of leguminous grass mixtures to the complex action of phosphoric-potassium and nitrogen fertilizers and complex microelements in the chelated form of microfol combi, which was used for foliar feeding of grasses was determined. For sowing, mixtures of perennial grasses were used, consisting of meadow timothy (6 kg/ha) and clover (16 kg/ha), meadow timothy (4 kg/ha), ryegrass (6 kg/ha), fenugreek (6 kg/ha). kg/ha), meadow clover (3 kg/ha), and horned lotus (3 kg/ha). Conclusions. The highest yield of dry matter (9.08 t/ha) was formed by sowing meadow clover, horned lotus, and a mixture of grasses (meadow timothy, perennial fenugreek). In the case of sowing meadow timothy with meadow clover on a similar agricultural background, the yield of dry matter was 8.56 t/ha. In the timothy-clover grass mixture, the share of meadow clover in the crop remained on average over the years of use of the grass stand at the level of 28.5; 28.6; 23.2; 22.7, and 17.0% in green mass. In a five-component mixture (meadow timothy, ryegrass, perennial fenugreek, meadow clover, lotus), the share of meadow clover in the formation of the grass stand was only 13.8–15.4%. The content of the lotus on average over four years of use was 11.3–22.8% in green mass.

Агротехнічні заходи з підвищення сталості агросистем Передкарпаття

Goal. To determine the impact of agrotechnical and light improvement measures on the sustainability of the agrosystems of Precarpathia. Methods. Field, physicochemical, and comparative analytical. Results. Research in increasing the sustainability of agroecosystems on sod-podzolic surface-gleied soils of Precarpathia was conducted on the lands of the first, second, and third ecological technological groups (ETG). The results of research on the impact of some agrotechnical and light improvement measures on increasing their sustainability are presented. It was established that to maintain a positive balance of organic matter in the soil (ETG 1), in addition to plowing straw and siderates in crop rotation, it is also necessary to apply organic fertilizers. The optimal saturation of crop rotation with intermediate crops is 40–60%. On slopes with a steepness of 3–7° (ETG 2), the stability of agroecosystems is significantly influenced by the method of soil cultivation and plant cover, in particular, the strip placement of agricultural crops. To prevent degradation processes on eroded slopes (ETG 3) taken out of cultivation, and to stabilize and restore soil fertility, such slopes should be limed with perennial grass mixtures. The inverse dependence of the erosion-accumulative process on the density of the grass stand was revealed. Conclusions. Increasing the sustainability of agrosystems on the lands of the first, second, and third eco-technological groups of the ETG is ensured by the use of agrotechnical and light improvement measures. Their application creates an opportunity to manage the functional efficiency of the agricultural system by improving the agrochemical and agrophysical properties of the soil, ceasing degradation processes, and also contributing to increasing its productivity.

Agrotechnics of sorghum in grass-field crop rotation for the conditions of the West Kazakhstan region

Sorghum can be sown after any crop in a field rotation, but in fields that are free of weeds. Sorghum is easy to grow in a wide variety of soil and climate conditions. Most often, it is cultivated in arid conditions, which is its clear advantage over other crops. These studies were conducted from 2019-2021. at the station in LLP “Ural Agricultural Experimental Station”, deployed in time and space, grass-field crop rotation, where the predecessors for sorghum were a mixture of perennial grasses of the fifth year of life. Before sowing sorghum, a background agrochemical characterization of the soil was carried out at 20 and 40 cm. In the studies, appropriate agrotechnics for sorghum cultivation were applied. The use of crops of perennial grasses consisting of cereal-legume phytocenoses (wheat grass, sainfoin, alfalfa) in grass-field crop rotations is promising from the point of view of further application of chemical means of protection against weeds, but also increasing soil fertility due to the organic matter of crop rotation crops.

STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZATION ON THE ABUNDANCE OF SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY, ITS COMPOSITION AND ANTIFUNGAL EFFICACY

Soil microbial community is of high importance in preserving soil functions and its ecosystem goods and services. Within field experiences, regarding agricultural sustainability and the resilience of agro-ecosystems, a study was conducted to evaluate the evolution and abundance of the soil microbial community under the influence of environmental and agro-technical factors. For this purpose, periodic determinations of the microbial community on the depth of 0-20 cm were made in the plots cultivated with wheat, maize, soybean and a mixture of perennial grasses and legumes. In the experimental field, organic fertilizer materials (manure compost in doses of 15, 30 and 60 t/ha) and synthetic fertilizers (complex fertilizer in formula 20.20.0, in doses which varied with the specific consumption of crops and the amount of manure compost) were applied. At the same time, in the laboratory, biometric determinations were made regarding the antifungal efficacy of soil microorganisms after 5 days from incubation. The results of microbiological analyses showed that the microbial population from soil inhibits the in vitro development of the pathogen tested.

Cultivation of Legume and Gramineous Grass Mixtures for Use on Hayfields and Pastures of Southern Sakhalin

Nowadays due of the world population growth, the demand for agricultural products is also growing. To obtain good meat and dairy products, high-quality feed for farm animals is necessary. Legume-gramineous perennial grass mixtures are used to improve fodder lands. Our experience included a test of 9 variants of legume-gramineous grass mixtures, where 6 types of grasses were used: red clover, alfalfa (legumes), meadow timothy grass, orchard-grass, smooth brome-grass, meadow fescue (cereals). The experiments were carried out in four repetitions on the lands of hay and pasture use with the use of fertilizers; there were carried out phenological observations, biometric measurements, and determination of the botanical composition. In herbage from hay fields the smooth brome-grass dominated, and in herbage from pastures the orchard-grass dominated. The proportion of non-sown grass species reaches 26.3-32.7 % in three-component grass mixtures with meadow timothy grass. Meadow fescue and meadow timothy in terms of growth rate, reactions to nitrogen application were inferior to the orchard-grass and smooth bromegrass, which led to their oppression and displacement from the herbage. The best density of plant standing per 1 m2 was noted in the orchard-grass and smooth bromegrass, the smallest - in meadow fescue and alfalfa.

Restoring ecological function to saline–sodic soils in South Dakota with perennial grass mixtures

AbstractRevegetation of saline–sodic soils is challenging. Over 10 million saline–sodic hectares are intertwined with highly productive soils in the Northern Great Plains, with 3.4 million ha in South Dakota. Establishing salt‐tolerant perennial plants provides soil cover and remediates barren areas. Two perennial salt‐tolerant grass mixes [Mix 1: slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus [Link] Gould ex Shinners) + beardless wildrye (Leymus triticoides [Buckley] Pilg.); Mix 2: slender wheatgrass + creeping foxtail (Alopercurus arundinaceus Poir.) + western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb.] Á. Löve) + ‘AC Saltlander’ green wheatgrass (Elymus hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & K.H. Asay)] were dormant‐planted in 2018 and 2019 along a soil catena with high [electrical conductivity (EC1:1) = 0.39 dS m–l; 72 mg kg–1 Na+], moderate (EC1:1 = 1.64 dS m–l; 343 mg kg–1 Na+), and low (EC1:1 = 3.87 dS m–l; 1,680 mg kg–1 Na+) productivity zones. Vegetative biomass was measured after seeding (2018, 2019) and during growth (2020, 2021), and compared with areas seeded to maize (Zea mays L.) and a nonplanted area. Biomass varied with year and productivity zone. Except in 2018, grasses had greater biomass in the moderate and low productivity zones than maize. The sodium content of grass biomass in 2020 and 2021 was 10× greater in the low than in the high and moderate productive zones (0.25 vs. 0.02%, respectively) but could be suitable for livestock feed. By 2021, grass biomass was similar for both mixes in all zones, and the grasses spread into nonplanted areas.

Improving old-age hayfi elds in the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia

The results of research on the improvement of old-age hayfi elds in the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia carried out in 2016–2020 were presented. A grass mixture of perennial leguminose grasses was sown, consisting of alfalfa (Medicago varia Mart.) of the Siberian variety 8, meadow clover (Trifolium pratense L.) of SibNIIK variety 10 and sandy esparcet (Onobrychis arenaria D.S.) of SibNIIK variety 41. The largest number of cereal plants (77,3 %) was in the variant with disking in 1 trace without sowing. The largest number of perennial leguminose grasses (86,5 %) was observed in the variant with a radical improvement of old-age hayfi elds and ordinary sowing of a mixture of perennial leguminose grasses. In the botanical composition of the herbage of old–age hayfi elds, the proportion of diff erent grasses with various turf treatments and sowing of perennial leguminose grasses decreased from 19,4 to 9,4–12,9 %. The highest yield of green and dry mass was obtained in a variant with a radical improvement and ordinary sowing of the grass mixture of perennial leguminose grasses. The yield of green mass was 12,09 and dry one 3,51 t/ ha. The amount of digestible protein per 1 feed unit was 111 g. Slightly inferior in yield was the option with a strip sowing of the grass mixture of perennial leguminose grasses. The yield of green and dry mass was 10,02 and 2,91 t/ha, respectively. The amount of digestible protein per 1 feed unit was 106 g. The lowest yield was obtained in the control version of the fi eld experiment (old-age hayfi eld). The yield of green and dry mass was 3,28 and 1,02 t/ha, respectively. The amount of digestible protein per 1 feed unit was 85 g. There was no butyric acid in the haylage of perennial grasses of improved old-age hayfi eld. The sum of lactic and acetic acids was small and amounted to 1,01–2,35 %, which indicates the high quality of the haylage mass obtained. It has been established that the most energetically advantageous option among the methods of improving old–age hayfi elds is strip sowing of the grass mixture of perennial leguminose grasses. Thus, among the considered methods of improving old-age hayfi elds, strip sowing of perennial leguminose grasses turned out to be the most energetically advantageous.

Improvement of degraded hayfelds in the forest-steppe of the Priobye region

The authors presented the results of research in 2012-2016 on the improvement of degraded hayfields with the sowing of perennial legume grass mixture at different methods of turf cultivation. The work aims to determine the most effective methods of cultivation of the turf of degraded hayfields, contributing to higher yields and quality of the resulting fodder. The highest content of perennial legumes in the herbage was noted in the variant with radical improvement of degraded hayfield (ploughing + discing) - 88 %, in the variant with milling - 80, discing - 70 %. The variant with radical improvement of the degraded hayfield (ploughing + discing) obtained the highest yield - 17.3 green and 3.64 t/ha - dry mass, which exceeds the yield of the control variant by 3.6 times. When carrying out radical improvement of degraded hayfields yield of fodder units was 1740, the number of digestible proteins per 1 fodder unit 140 g. These indicators during turf disking were 1550 fodder unit and 135 g, respectively. During strip seeding of perennial leguminous grasses (meadow clover + alfalfa) the variant with a width of the cultivated strip of 60 cm was selected. The yield of fodder units was 1610, the amount of digestible protein per 1 fodder unit - 120 g. In the control variant the yield of fodder units was 380, the amount of digestible protein per 1 fodder unit - 85 g. Strip-seeding of perennial leguminous grasses was the most cost-effective method of improving degraded hayfields in the Priobye forest-steppe. Net income in variants with strip-seeding of perennial leguminous grasses was 3751-4278 rubles/ha, profitability level - 71- 87%. In the variant with radical improvement of the degraded hayfield (ploughing + discing) these indicators are lower - 3959 rubles/ha and 57 % accordingly.