Transforming pastures into sources of wealth through scientific grassland management
In the heart of Ukraine, where forest meets steppe, lies a powerful resource capable of transforming pastures into sources of wealth. The unique forest-steppe zone of Right-Bank Ukraine, stretching from the Precarpathians to the Dnieper River, covers 34-35% of Ukraine's territory and represents a mosaic of forest areas and steppe plots 4 . It is here, on fertile chernozems, that highly productive agrophytocenoses are formed, which determine the efficiency of livestock farming - the most important branch of agriculture in the region.
The forest-steppe zone of Right-Bank Ukraine is a territory with a temperate continental climate where average January temperatures range from -4°C in the west to -8°C in the east, and July temperatures from +16°C to +22°C respectively. Annual precipitation here ranges from 500 to 600 mm, creating sufficient moisture for the formation of rich grasslands 4 .
The soil cover is distinguished by high fertility - typical and podzolized chernozems predominate, as well as gray forest soils formed on loess rocks 4 . Natural vegetation of the forest-steppe represents a complex mosaic of forest and steppe communities.
of Ukraine's territory covered by forest-steppe zone
annual precipitation
forest coverage in the region
Research shows that the basis of highly productive grasslands in the forest-steppe zone are legume-grass mixtures. Their advantage over single-species crops lies in the ability to create stable phytocenoses with a long period of productive longevity.
On experimental fields in similar climatic conditions, two main grass mixtures demonstrate effectiveness:
To study in detail the effectiveness of grassland use in the conditions of Right-Bank forest-steppe Ukraine, a long-term field experiment was established aimed at determining optimal doses and timing of nitrogen fertilizer application.
The experiment was conducted based on stationary research started in 2002 on pastures in conditions similar to Right-Bank forest-steppe Ukraine. The soils of the experimental plot are ordinary chernozems, containing 1.93-2.52% humus in the 0-20 cm layer, which is typical for the forest-steppe zone .
Data collected over a ten-year period (2002-2012) revealed clear patterns of the influence of nitrogen fertilizers on grassland productivity depending on meteorological conditions.
| Grassland Type | N Dose, kg/ha | Dry Year (tons/ha hay) | Normal Moisture (tons/ha hay) | Wet Year (tons/ha hay) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 180 | 65.0 | 78.5 | 85.0 |
| Early | 300 | 58.5 | 95.0 | 102.5 |
| Mid-season | 240 | 45.5 | 63.0 | 72.0 |
| Late | 120 | 56.9 | 65.5 | 74.0 |
| Late | 60 | 52.0 | 58.0 | 65.5 |
Table 1: Influence of nitrogen fertilizer doses on grassland yield in different weather conditions (tons/ha hay)
Research showed that uniform application of nitrogen before each grazing cycle ensured not only high total yield but also better distribution of forage mass across usage periods.
| Nitrogen Distribution Scheme by Grazing Cycles, kg/ha | Annual Yield, tons/ha hay | Share of First Half Season Yield, % |
|---|---|---|
| 80-0-80-0 | 69.8 | 60 |
| 60-60-60-60 | 68.7 | 64 |
| 40-40-40-40 | 69.0 | 56 |
| 120-0-120-0 | 77.0 | 58 |
Table 2: Influence of nitrogen fertilizer distribution on early grassland yield (N dose 240 kg/ha, average for 2002-2012)
An important aspect of the research was the influence of nitrogen fertilizers on the preservation of the legume component in the grassland. It was established that leguminous grasses were better preserved when nitrogen was applied at a dose of no more than 60 kg/ha . High doses of nitrogen fertilizers stimulated the development of grass components, which gradually displaced legumes from the grassland, which in the long term could lead to a decrease in the nutritional value of feed and an increase in costs for nitrogen fertilizers.
Successful study and formation of highly productive grasslands requires the use of specialized reagents and materials. Below are the key components of the research toolkit in this field.
| Component | Function and Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ammonium nitrate | Main nitrogen fertilizer for grassland fertilization, ensuring intensive growth |
| Phosphorus fertilizers (P₂O₅) | Stimulation of root system development, increasing winter hardiness of perennial grasses |
| Potassium fertilizers (K₂O) | Improvement of carbohydrate metabolism, increasing resistance to diseases and adverse conditions |
| Double-cut clover seeds | Legume component of grass mixtures, providing high nutritional value and nitrogen fixation |
| Variable alfalfa seeds | Perennial legume component with high productivity and nitrogen fixation ability |
| Timothy grass seeds | Grass component forming stable grassland with high feed value |
| Reed fescue seeds | Grass providing early vegetation and resistance to adverse conditions |
Table 3: Main reagents and materials for grassland research
Effective use of grasslands in the conditions of Right-Bank forest-steppe Ukraine is a complex but solvable task. Long-term research demonstrates that the optimal strategy should include:
The development of adaptive resource-saving technologies for the formation of highly productive agrophytocenoses allows not only to increase the production of quality feeds but also to ensure sustainable use of the natural resources of Ukraine's unique forest-steppe zone.