Determination of the herbage yield and botanical composition of some pastures located in Ergani district in Diyarbakir province

This research was conducted to determine herbage yield and vegetation structures of four native village pastures of Ergani district in Diyarbakır. The green and dry herbage yield, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV), crude protein ratio, crude ash ratio and the ratios of the species in the botanical composition of the pastures were studied by using the Loop Method. In 4 lines 400 loop measurements were made in each pasture in the study. The values of the herbage yield were determined between 63,50-108,75 kg/da (green herbage yield) and 15,50-25,50 kg/da (dry herbage yield); the values of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV), crude protein ratio, crude ash ratio were determined between 31,00-38,40%, 46,53-60,30%, 58,98-64,75%, 1,99-2,59%, 95,51-129,78, 12,28-18,06%, 8,43-11,41% and the percentages of grains, legumes and other family plants in the botanical composition weredetenmined between 21,58-57,13%, 11,50-40,65% and 23,48-41,43% respectively. It is concluded from the research that vegetations of the pastures are generally composed of invasive species. This situation would mean that pastures may be under the grazing pressure, thus it has affected to the herbage yield negatively. It is thought that the productivity of these pastures can be increased with the application of the appropriate pasture management methods.