Authors : Mahmut Dasci, Tamer Coskun, Binali Comakli, Hikmet Birham, N. Zeynep Yildirim and Hulya Bakir
Abstract: The experiment was conducted on heavy grazed rangelands in Erzurum. In this study, three forage species, crested wheatgrass (Agropyroncristatum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and smooth brome (Bromusinermis) were selected and mixed to establish for rangeland improving. Four treatments, artificial pasture, over seeding, fertilization and control were applied; main subjects were grazing free and enclosure to grazing for animal. About 10 kg N da-1 + 7 Kg P2O5 da-1 was applied as a fertilizer on over seeding and artificial seeding plots only in planted year, 6 kg N da-1 + 4 kg P2O5 da-1 on fertilization plots in each year. According to average of five study years, dry matter yield was 264.4 kg da-1 in fertilization plots; 183.2 kg da-1 was in artificial pasture plots in enclosed site. In grazed site, average dry matter yield was 114.7 kg da-1 in fertilized plots, 68.0 kg da-1 in artificial pasture plots and there was not significant difference between control and over seeding plots. There were significant differences among treatments for vegetation cover in enclosed and grazed sites. In all study years, vegetation cover was higher in fertilizer treatment plots than the other treatment plots but especially in 2008 and 2009 years, vegetation cover showed notable increase in fertilizer treatment plots compared to the other treatments.
Mahmut Dasci, Tamer Coskun, Binali Comakli, Hikmet Birham, N. Zeynep Yildirim and Hulya Bakir, 2010. The Effects of Some Improving Methods on Dry Matter Yield and Vegetation Cover on Heavy Grazed Rangeland. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 1676-1680.