Effect of deficit irrigation on dry matter and sheep production from permanent sown pastures

S., Isik; S., Ates; A., Gunes; A.H., Aktas; G., Keles

Effect of deficit irrigation on dry matter and sheep production from permanent sown pastures

2012

S., Isik | S., Ates | A., Gunes | A.H., Aktas | G., Keles

A three year study compared pasture and sheep production from permanent sown pastures that were irrigated at four levels in Konya, the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Pastures were established in 2007 with Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens and Lotus corniculatus, and irrigated at 100 per cent, 75 per cent, 50 per cent or 25 per cent of field capacity (FC). Established pastures were grazed rotationally by flocks of weaned lambs between 2008 and 2010. The total annual dry matter production (DMP) (kg per ha) was reduced (P less than 0.01) by decreasing levels of irrigation in each year. Averaged across the years, mean annual DMP was 9.59, 8.78, 7.21 and 4.86 t per ha for FC 100 per cent, 75 per cent, 50 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. Pastures irrigated at FC 100 per cent and 75 per cent provided equal animal production but total liveweight production (LWP) per ha decreased (P less than 0.01) when pastures irrigated at FC 50 per cent or at lower level in a similar manner in each year of the study.

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