Improvement of forage lands in Central Non-Black Earth Zone of Russia by using some integrated approaches

In an activity system aimed at creation of high-quality fodder base for animal agriculture, crop science plays the main role. It facilitates the increase in the productivity of forage crops, which guarantees the relevance of efficiency studies and the developed technologies for improving forage lands. The research was aimed at studying the impact of integrated approaches to improving forage lands in the Central Non-Black Earth Zone. The objectives of the research were as follows: to present a methodology for monitoring agricultural fields for the subsequent improvement of forage lands; to develop an efficient technology for improving forage lands using modern mechanization means; to study the productivity of different grass mixtures when implementing various options for soil cultivation. Based on the results of three years of theoretical and experimental research, a technological scheme for fodder land improvement (including technical processes) was compiled: monitoring of fields, preparation of grass mixtures and mineral fertilizers, preparation and tuning of machine-tractor aggregates, assessment of the yield of two-time grass cutting and secondary monitoring of fields. The proposed technology included several levelling technological operations (including levelling of hillocks), operations for the preparation of the seedbed and the seed material in the form of grass mixtures and mineral fertilizers and subsequent strip sowing. It has been established that when improving fodder lands as well as the quality of soil preparation, the prevalence of milling created more favorable conditions for increasing productivity of perennial grasses compared to disking.