Rotational Pasture Management for Ameliorating Productivity and Feed Value of Vegetation, Soil Quality, and Sustainability in Dry Steppe Zone

Abstract

Over the past years, a farming system in the Akmola region of Kazakhstan has undergone significant changes: The average number of animals per farm and the use of external inputs have significantly enhanced while the diversity of farming practices has decreased, becoming similar to intensive farming. In this research, we evaluated the rotational pastures for increasing the productivity and feed value of vegetation, soil quality, and sustainability of pastures for the development of livestock farming in Northern Kazakhstan. Statistical data analysis indicated that in the grazing period, in the phytocenosis of the farm’s pastures, the main dominant plants were fescue Welsh (Fescue) (Festuca Valesiaca) and wormwood (Artemisia vulgaris). The projective cover by season of the grazing period varied from 53% with an intensive method of use to 67% with the use of rotation, the height of the grass stand was from 9-22 cm, respectively. The yield of green mass varied from 6.1-12.6 c/ha^-1. Green mass collection averaged from 7.0-10.9 c/ha^-1, the yield of dry mass from 2.2-4.1 c/ha^-1, feed units from 1.1-2.1 c/ha^-1, digestible protein from 0.09-0.18 c/ha^-1, provision of feed units with digestible protein from 80 to 85 g, metabolic energy from 1.6-3.0 GJ/ha^-1. The obtained results will allow agricultural producers to effectively use pasture resources and increase the competitiveness of domestic livestock products.