Binali Çomaklı

Changes in vegetation and soil properties along a slope on overgrazed and eroded rangelands

Abstract Rangelands, generally located on steep semi-arid zones, have a special importance in resource management. Continued overgrazing and erosion cause range degradation by altering plant communities and soil properties. The objective of this study was to determine changes in vegetation and soil properties along a slope on overgrazed and moderately eroded rangelands. Four study sites with three landscape positions: summit, backslope and footslope, were selected. In each position, botanical composition, canopy coverage, rangeland quality degree, and some important surface soil properties such as texture, bulk density, moisture content, organic matter content, CaCO 3 content and plant available-P content, were determined. The frequency of grasses in botanical composition varied from 39.5% to 84.0%, and on the average, the frequency was lowest at summit and highest at footslope positions. The frequency of legumes at summit positions was lower than those of the other positions in two range sites. The amount of canopy coverage changed between 19.6% and 45.2%. The highest amounts were obtained in footslopes and the lowest amounts were in summits. The degree of range quality varied between 3.2 and 5.5. Based on the overall means of the four sites, there were no significant differences among the positions regarding range quality degree, but it was generally lowest at summit positions. Clay content of surface samples was lowest at backslopes in all sites. But, there were no significant differences in clay contents of the summit and footslope positions. Changes in soil bulk density showed a significant trend along the slopes, and it was generally higher in backslope and footslope than that of summit position. Soil moisture content at time of sampling and organic matter content was generally higher at footslope positions than those of backslope and summit. While the amount of plant available-P was the lowest at backslope positions of the range sites, CaCO 3 content of soil was lowest at footslopes in all sites.

Nitrogen fertilizing and pre-anthesis cutting stage improve dry matter production, protein content and botanical composition in meadows

Meadows in highlands are an important source of feed for livestock especially when harvested as hay for the winter period. Hay production from meadows largely depends on water table and management practices. A study was conducted on meadows with different water table levels (L1: high, L2: medium, L3: deep) for investigating effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization (N0: 0, N75: 75, N150: 150, N225: 225 kg N ha−1) and cutting stage (CS1: pre-anthesis, CS2: anthesis, CS3: milk accumulation) on hay yield and botanical composition in 1997 and 1998. Dry matter (DM) production changed depending on water table levels among sites. DM production showed relatively small increases when cutting was delayed in L2 until cutting stage CS3. The DM production and crude protein (CP) yield increased in response to N application, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was the same in L1 and L2, but decreased in L3. N application slightly increased the ratio of grasses to legumes at L2 and L3. N had no effect on grass to legume ratio in the L1 location and L1 was dominated by rushes and sedges. As cutting was delayed in L1 and L2, the proportion of grasses increased, but rushes and sedges decreased. Fertilization practices have definite influences on botanical composition and production on meadows. Therefore, we propose 150 kg ha−1 nitrogen for flooded meadows to prevent N runoff, and 225 kg ha−1 for dry meadow in highlands. Cutting should be at the pre-anthesis stage.

Improvement of yield and botanical composition in meadows: effects of N fertilisation, irrigation on locations having different water table levels.

Meadows dominated by native herbaceous species and having a high water table are an important source of feed for livestock in semi-arid regions of Turkey. This research investigated the effects of nitrogen fertilisation (ammonium sulfate) on two meadows having different water table levels and different soils. Dry matter production was 8868 kg ha–1 at location 1 and 7276 kg ha–1 at location 2. The application of 225 kg N ha–1 increased the crude protein content of the forage from 7.1 to 10.8%. A level of 150 kg ha–1 (CP 9.6%) is recommended as a result of this study. Crude protein yield increased from 303 to 1113 kg ha–1 with the highest rate of nitrogen application. The percentage of grasses in the forage averaged 92.5% and the weeds averaged 7.5%. Increasing nitrogen fertilisation resulted in an increase in the grass percentage and a decrease in the proportion of weeds. The differences in water table depth between location 1 and location 2 were not consistent between the years, and these differences influenced the irrigation applications which were applied according to soil moisture criteria.

Growth Performance of Brown Swiss Calves Fed Early and Late Cut Hay from Meadow Fertilized by Two Levels of N and P2 O5

Abstract Comakli, B., Yanar, M., Tuzemen, N., Tan, M., Turgut, L. and Mentese, Ö. 2005. Growth performance of Brown Swiss, calves fed early and late cut hay from meadow fertilized by two levels of N and P2 O5. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 27: 35–38. To determine effects of rations mainly formed by early or late-bloom cut hay from meadows fertilized by N and P2 O5 or not fertilized, on the growth performance, 20 female Brown Swiss calves (6–12 m) were fed for 129 days. Average daily weight gain, feed per unit weight gain and total intake of meadow hay were better for hay from meadows fertilized with N and P2 O5 as compared to hay from not fertilized meadow. Similarly these parameters were better for calves fed early bloom hay than for calves fed late bloom hay. Application of N and P2 O5 fertilizers and early cutting stage for meadow hay is suggested for providing better growth performance and feed efficiency traits of the Brown Swiss calves.

Esmer ve Siyah Alaca Sağmal İnekler ile Düvelerde İki Farklı Yemleme Programının Karşılaştırılması

Bu calismanin amaclari, 2 farkli yemleme programinin; i) 20 adet Siyah Alaca ve 20 adet Esmer sigirda 144 gunluk deneme suresince sut verimi ve kompozisyonu ile duyusal ozellikleri uzerine etkilerini 1. denemede degerlendirmek, ii) 18 adet Esmer ve 14 adet Siyah Alaca duvenin 90 gun boyunca gelisme performanslarini 2. denemede karsilastirmaktir. Birinci denemede, yemleme programlari [(i) misir silaji (25.0 kg/bas/gun) ile sinirli miktarda kuru ot (5.0 kg/bas/gun) ve 4.5 kg/bas/gun kesif yem (MS yemleme programi); (ii) kuru ot (10,0 kg/bas/gun) ve 4.5 kg/bas/gun kesif yem (KO yemleme programi)] gunluk sut verimi ile sut yagi, kuru madde ve yagsiz kuru madde oranlarini onemli derecede etkilememistir. Farkli yemleme programlarinin sutun duyusal ozellikleri uzerine etkileri onemli olmayip, silaj iceren rasyonla yapilan yemleme, sutun duyusal ozellikleri uzerine herhangi bir olumsuz etkiye neden olmamistir. Ikinci denemede, DMS yemleme programindaki [misir silaji (10.0 kg/bas/gun) ile sinirli miktarda kuru ot (2.0 kg/bas/gun) ve 2.0 kg/ bas/gun kesif yem] duveler, DKO programindakilere [kuru ot (6.0 kg/bas/gun) ve 2.0 kg/bas/gun kesif yem] gore % 49.7 oraninda daha yuksek toplam canli agirlik artisi saglamislardir. DMS yemleme programindaki duvelerin ortalama yemden yararlanma oranlari onemli olcude daha iyi bulunmustur. Sonuc olarak, incelenen her iki yemleme programi Esmer ve Siyah Alaca ineklerin gunluk sut verimi ile sutun kompozisyonu ve duyusal ozellikleri uzerine onemli etkilerde bulunmazken, DMS yemleme programi duveler icin tavsiye edilmistir.

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENT TREATMENTS ON BOTANICAL COMPOSITION AND SEDIMENT MOVEMENT ON GRAZED AND ENCLOSED RANGE SITES

This study was carried out on heavily grazed rangelands in Erzurum, during the years 2006-2009, for 4 years period. In this study, four treatments that included artificial pasture, oversowing, fertilization and control were applied on grazed and enclosed rangeland sites. A mixture of Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis) was used for rangeland seeding. Ammonium sulfate and Triple Super Phosphate was applied on fertilization plots in sites grazed and enclosed site. Botanical composition was determined by line intercept methods. After each erosive rain event, the amount of soil (sediment) was determined in each plot. Across of four years, fertilization increased the grass proportion, decreased other species proportion and sediment yield in both sites. Under grazing, over sowing increased the grass proportion, and decreased other species proportion. Lower grass, higher legumes, higher other species proportion and higher sediment yield determined in the third year compared to other years in both sites. The enclosed site had higher grass, lower legumes, other species proportion and sediment yield than the grazed one. Results of this study showed fertilization and oversowing treatment can be effective for soil protection in enclosed and grazed rangelands, similar to this study area. Also, combined with short term enclosure treatment the other improvement treatments can recommend for rangeland restoration and soil protection.

Yaylacılık ve Tarımsal Açıdan Önemi / Yaylacilik and Importance for Agriculture

OZET :Yaylacilik, hayvan suruleriyle beraber devamli ikamet edilen yerden yilin belirli donemlerinde, ozellikle sicak yaz aylarinda yayla yerine goc etmek suretiyle gerceklestirilen bir tarimsal faaliyettir. Turklerde geleneksel bir hayvancilik sekli olan yaylacilik yuksek kesimlerdeki meralardan faydalanmanin en iyi yoludur. Yayla alanlarindan daha verimli faydalanmak icin yayla yollarinin, hayvansal urun uretim ve pazarlama faaliyetleri ile yaylada ihtiyac duyulan yapi elemanlarinin iyi bir sekilde duzenlenmesi gerekmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Yayla, Yaylacilik, Yayla merasi, Gocebe hayvancilik. Yaylacilik and Importance for Agriculture ABSTRACT : Yaylacilik is an agricultural activity, villagers move from permanent settlements to uplands with herd in certain periods of year, especially during warmer summer months. Traditional animal raising system, called yaylacilik in Turkish, is one of the best using of upland rangelands. The roads of yayla, production and marketing conditions of animal products, and other structures must be improved to raise productivity of yayla areas. Key words: Upland (Yayla), Yaylacilik, Upland (yayla) rangeland, Nomadic animal raising.

Growth Performance Characteristics of Holstein Friesian Calves Fed Early and Late Cut Meadow Hay / Erken ve Geç Biçilmiş Çayır Otu ile Beslenen Siyah Alaca Danaların Büyüme Performansı Özellikleri

Bu calisma, disi Siyah Alaca danalarin buyume performansi uzerine erken veya gec ciceklenme doneminde bicilen cayir otu ile beslemenin etkisini belirlemek uzere yurutulmustur. Bu amacla 8-10 aylik yaslarda 12 adet disi Siyah Alaca dana 129 gun sure ile beslenmistir. Cayir otu bicim zamaninin, erken bicim uygulamasi lehine olmak uzere buyume performansi ve yemden yararlanma orani bakimindan onemli etki yaptigi belirlenmistir. Erken bicilmis cayir otu ile beslenen buzagilar, gec bicilmis ot verilen buzagilardan 17.5 kg daha fazla toplam canli agirlik artisi yapmislardir. Bir kg canli agirlik artisi icin tuketilen erken bicim cayir otu miktari gec bicilen ot ile beslenenlerden 1.725 kg daha azdir. Dogu Anadolu Bolgesinde yetistirilen disi Siyah Alaca danalarda daha iyi bir buyume performansi ve yemden yararlanma degeri saglanmasi bakimindan, erken ciceklenme doneminde cayir otu uretiminin tavsiye edilebilecegi sonucuna varilmistir.