The effect of certain improvement methods on yield at düzce esenli rangeland

This study was conducted between 2005-2006 to determine the suitable rangeland improvement method for Düzce Esenli and other unproductive rangelands similar in terms of their characteristics. At Esenli natural rangeland, which has never been treated before, a control (A) and two different improvement treatment methods were investigated. The treatments comprised fertilization (B) and cultivation-seeding + fertilization (C) methods. More specifically, the study examined the extent to which, if any, fertilization and cultivation-seeding + fertilization improved a natural rangeland compared to the natural rangeland. The highest green hay, dry hay, dry mass, raw protein, phosporus and raw ash production was obtained with treatment C at 248.20, 148.95, 140.58, 27.43, 0.81 ve 10.02 kg/decar, respectively. Green hay, dry hay, dry mass, raw protein, phosporus and raw ash yield with treatment A was 37.18, 19.37, 17.70, 1.90, 0.49, 1.25 kg/decar and with treatment B 147.92, 84.54, 76.38, 10.88, 0.28, 6.06 kg/decar, respectively. It should be noted that the dry weather condition, a considerable low moisture level in terms of long time annual average for the region, which lasted during the plants? active growth period in 2006, caused the production values to remain at a low level. In conclusion, the results indicated that due to the flat nature of the rangeland and the soil?s suitability for feed plants, and since it produced the highest yield and nutrient values for the examined aspects, cultivation-seeding + fertilization method was thought to be the most appropriate rangeland improvement method. Keywords: Rangeland, Seeding , Fertilization, Hay Yield, Protein Yield.