Publication Date
1989
Description
Natural grasslands occupy 3 billion hectares of the world, i.e. more than twice the world's arable croplands. In many countries most of the grasslands are situated on the slopes of gullies, cone-shaped hills, foothills and mountains. The grass stands on these lands are thinning through free grazing, and pasture degradation brings about the development of erosional processes (McCloud, 1974). For example, in the central part of the Middle Russian forest-steppe zone, the arable lands occupy 59%, grasslands 12% and woodlands 18%. The relief is very indented, the absolute altitudes are 200-300 m above sea level. Leached chernozem top soil horizon has 5,5-5,9% of humus and pH 5,4-5,7, the annual amount of precipitation is 500-600 mm. Natural grasslands are situated mainly on the slopes and have very low productivity (0,5-1,0 t/ha of dry matter). Large areas of them in many agricultural farms are used only by free grazing, which results in the worsening of the grass stand and in an increase of erosional processes. The erosion is widespread on steep slopes of the arable land too, which are found directly in the gully-end-ridge systems. Natural grassland phytocoenoses on the slopes, when used by free grazing, have a very small leaf area index (LAI) (0,8-1,0) and have a low efficiency of photosynthetical active radiation (EPhAR)(0, 1-0,2 % ). This is the main reason for their low productivity. Effective methods of simplified and radical grassland improvement have increased LAI up to 3-6 and EPhAR up to 1,0-1,6%. Optimization of photosynthetical activity of phytocoenosis leads to a large increase in productivity (5-10 times) and dense grass stands prevent effectively soil from erosion.
Citation
Kolomeichenko, V V., "Increase in Productivity of Natural Grasslands on Slopes" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 12.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13/12
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Increase in Productivity of Natural Grasslands on Slopes
Natural grasslands occupy 3 billion hectares of the world, i.e. more than twice the world's arable croplands. In many countries most of the grasslands are situated on the slopes of gullies, cone-shaped hills, foothills and mountains. The grass stands on these lands are thinning through free grazing, and pasture degradation brings about the development of erosional processes (McCloud, 1974). For example, in the central part of the Middle Russian forest-steppe zone, the arable lands occupy 59%, grasslands 12% and woodlands 18%. The relief is very indented, the absolute altitudes are 200-300 m above sea level. Leached chernozem top soil horizon has 5,5-5,9% of humus and pH 5,4-5,7, the annual amount of precipitation is 500-600 mm. Natural grasslands are situated mainly on the slopes and have very low productivity (0,5-1,0 t/ha of dry matter). Large areas of them in many agricultural farms are used only by free grazing, which results in the worsening of the grass stand and in an increase of erosional processes. The erosion is widespread on steep slopes of the arable land too, which are found directly in the gully-end-ridge systems. Natural grassland phytocoenoses on the slopes, when used by free grazing, have a very small leaf area index (LAI) (0,8-1,0) and have a low efficiency of photosynthetical active radiation (EPhAR)(0, 1-0,2 % ). This is the main reason for their low productivity. Effective methods of simplified and radical grassland improvement have increased LAI up to 3-6 and EPhAR up to 1,0-1,6%. Optimization of photosynthetical activity of phytocoenosis leads to a large increase in productivity (5-10 times) and dense grass stands prevent effectively soil from erosion.
