Grasslands of the World.pdf - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

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Grasslands of the world
Mikheev and Musatova (1940) found that Festuca sulcata gave way to Poa
pratensis as the result of manure (30 t/ha). The same manure increased hay
yield by (only) 1 900 kg/ha. Sedges also tend to be reduced and Agropyron spp.
are encouraged.
MID-TERM DEPRESSION
Newly established grasslands tend to go through a depression after a few years,
and this was recognized early by Vil’yams. More persistent varieties, together
with better N-nutrition , have done much to alleviate this problem. Steppe
fallow land with Agropyron repens is highly valued. After a few years, however,
it tends to give way to the less valuable Poa angustifolia and Festuca sulcata , and
yields may be reduced by half. Re-ploughing the field helps to rejuvenate the
Agropyron repens, especially when combined with N-fertilizer and when used
first for hay and subsequently for grazing . The same applies to A. racemosum
in the Volgograd area, western Siberia and Kazakhstan , where it formerly
covered millions of hectares. Hay yields were often doubled. Measures to
promote snow retention are essential. The introduction of machinery like the
rotovator facilitated destroying the existing sward. A more recent and valuable
aid is glyphosate as an effective but very safe herbicide.
SOWN FORAGE
For many engaged in increased fodder production, all the measures mentioned
above are not effective enough. Refuge is sometimes sought in sowing
perennial grasses, with or without legumes and with or without intermittent
arable cropping. However annual fodders such as maize for silage and oats,
lent themselves more easily to the industrial style agriculture sought after in the
FSU. A lot of maize is grown in Russia in areas north of latitude 55°N, which
are considered too cold in the West (e.g. Scotland, Denmark), and many of the
areas are too dry for silage maize. Late springs with late frosts and winter frosts
as early as the first half of September shorten the growing season for maize
even more radically. Existing, commercial early-maturing hybrids are not early
enough for large parts of Russia; the problem has still not been solved, neither
agronomically nor economically, let alone from the environmental point of
view.
Short of complete ploughing and reseeding , over-sowing has been recommended
at times. Perhaps this was inspired by positive results obtained with
over-sowing in areas that had been cleared of trees and shrubs in the more
northerly forest zone. However doubtful in economic terms such advice
might be for steppe conditions, the species recommended are worth mentioning:
Bromus inermis , B. erectus , Agropyron pectiniforme , A. sibiricum ,
A. desertorum , Euagropyron spp., Festuca sulcata , Medicago sativa , M. s. subsp.
falcata, Melilotus alba , sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia ) and Kochia prostrata
(Chenopodiaceae). In regions east of the Urals with abundant late-summer