Assessing the influence of cereal-legume mixtures on the productivity of degraded pastures in the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan

Short article https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/refame Assessing the influence of cereal-legume mixtures on the productivity of degraded pastures in the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan Evaluación de la influencia de las mezclas de cereales y leguminosas en la productividad de pastos degradados en la región de Kostanay, en el norte de Kazajstán https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v75n1.95199 Almabek Batyrzhanovich Nugmanov1, Assel Salimzhanovna Tokusheva1, Asiya Simbaevna Ansabayeva1*, Marden Ersainovich Baidalin2, Almagul Erbatyrovna Kalyaskarova3 and Aliya Uzbekovna Bugubaeva1 ABSTRACT Keywords: Fodder production Grass-legume mixtures Grasses Pastures Perennial plants This study presents the results of some options to restore pastures with low productivity in the arid steppes of the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan, describing the effects associated with grass-legume mixtures. The effects of grass-legume mixtures, contribution to the preservation and maintenance of pasture forage crops, and the productivity of pastures were discussed. Mixtures of grasses and legumes were selected that are promising crops for arid regions.The plant density and its condition were determined based on test plots of adjacent rows of 0.5 m each, followed by counting. The plant height was determined before the yield of green mass by measuring 25 plants of each species. The yield of green mass in the maturity phase of the grass was determined by mowing and weighing the green mass in the plots, followed by the analysis of the species composition in the grass mixture and drying until air dry. The density of plants, the height of the plants, and the safety of the forage plants according to the sowing method were the data collected. In addition, the effect of grass mixtures on the productivity of forage crops to improve pastures was compared. According to these results, the highest productivity under experimental conditions was found in the wheat grassalfalfa-bromegrass variant. This information can contribute to the improvement of the state of the pastures since it is complete and inexpensive food for farm animals. RESUMEN Palabras clave: Producción forrajera Mezclas de hierbasleguminosas Pastos Gramíneas Plantas perennes Este estudio presenta los resultados de algunas opciones para restaurar pastos con baja productividad en las tierras áridas de la región de Kostanay (norte de Kazajstán). Se discutieron los efectos de las mezclas de gramíneas y leguminosas, la contribución a la preservación y mantenimiento de los cultivos forrajeros de pastos y la productividad de los mismos. Se seleccionaron mezclas de gramíneas y leguminosas que son cultivos prometedores para las regiones áridas. El estado de la planta y su densidad se determinaron con base en parcelas de prueba de hileras adyacentes de 0.5 m cada una, seguidas de conteo. La altura de la planta se determinó antes del rendimiento de masa verde (masa fresca) midiendo 25 plantas de cada especie. El rendimiento de masa verde en la fase de madurez del pasto se determinó cortando y pesando la masa fresca en las parcelas, seguido del análisis de la composición de especies en la mezcla de pasto y secando las gavillas al aire. La densidad de plantas, la altura de las plantas y la inocuidad de las plantas forrajeras según el método de siembra fueron los datos recogidos. Además, se comparó el efecto de las mezclas de gramíneas sobre la productividad de cultivos forrajeros para mejorar los pastos. Según estos resultados, la mayor productividad en condiciones experimentales se encontró en la variante trigo-alfalfa-hierba-bromo.. Esta información puede contribuir al mejoramiento del estado de los pastos, ya que es alimento completo y económico para los animales de granja. Kostanay Regional University, Kostanay, Kazakhstan. , 2 Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan. 3 Agricultural Experimental Station LPP, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan. * Corresponding author 1 Received: October 29, 2021; Accepted: November 29, 2021 Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín 75(1): 9877-9886. 2022 , ISSN 0304-2847 / e-ISSN 2248-7026 , Nugmanov A, Tokusheva A, Ansabayeva A, Baidalin M, Kalyaskarova A, Bugubaeva A 9878 T he current conditions of pastures in many countries is unsatisfactory due to a strong degradation of vegetation and soil observed worldwide including North and South America, Africa, and Australia (Baethgen et al., 2020; Fuglie et al., 2021). This is due to the misuse of pastures in farms since continuous and irregular grazing is performed, generating a decrease in vegetation cover and regrowth of weeds and non-food plants. The Republic of Kazakhstan is an agrarian country and ranks sixth in the world in terms of pasture area (Nugmanov et al., 2018a). The total land area of pastures is 187 million ha. Currently, due to long-term unsystematic use, 48.0 million ha are degraded, including 26.5 million ha that are destroyed (Nugmanov et al., 2018a). of degraded pastures, is considered, as well as the influence of grazing as the most important deflationary process. For the development of animal husbandry in Kazakhstan, it is necessary to create sustainable forage-based food. Given its potential, there are opportunities to introduce highly productive fodder crops and efficient technologies into agricultural production (Baranowski et al., 2020). In Kazakhstan, the sources of plant feed for farm animals are pastures (187 million ha), hayfields (5.0 million ha), and fodder arable land (2.5 million ha) (Popov et al., 2017). Within the pasture maintenance of livestock, the rational maintenance of pastures is highly relevant, since the productivity of pasture lands with their correct use increases greatly (Popov et al., 2017). The most relevant theoretical and methodological aspects of the biological characteristics of legumes and cereals, their cultivation, adaptation to soil and climatic conditions, and the impact on the productivity and quality of crops have been addressed. Sufficient attention was paid to the peculiarities and problems of the cultivation of perennial grasses, but the issue of the selection of legumes in the composition of pasture mixtures for the arid conditions of the Western Ciscaucasia (Bedilo, 2016). After grazing, fodder cereals and forbs are removed from the grass stand while low-value, poisonous, and weed plants are introduced (Jun Li et al., 2007; Vasques et al., 2019). Researchers have established criteria and indicators of the degree of degradation of vegetation cover (Ministério da Agricultura e Reforma Agrária Brasil, 2009; Derpsch et al., 2010; Asai et al., 2018; Sereia et al., 2016; Viaud et al., 2018; Van Dyke et al., 2004; Soares et al., 2019; Dymova, 2006; Sizykh, 2007; Bazha et al., 2008). They include the low degree, which shows signs of degradation in dry years; moderate degree, which is a decrease in the yield, displacement of rare plants, and the appearance of weeds; high de (...truncated)