Fertilizer and herbicide applications for rangeland rehabilitation (Düzce Köprübaşıömerefendi case study)

With this study, carried out in 2011 and 2012, it is aimed to find the most efficient rehabilitation method that will bring out better results in the rehabilitation applications made on Köprübaşıömerefendi rangeland and on other natural rangelands having similar characteristics in Düzce, determining the effect of 2,4-D Amine, different amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus combinations on the yield and quality of grass. The study was designed in a way that 25 square meter parcels were assigned to three groups through completely randomized design with three replications. The herbicide was on main parcels, dosages of phosphorous on the sub parcels, and dosages of nitrogen on the sub-sub parcels. According to the study results, a yield of 4387 kg/ha hay was obtained. Furthermore, high average rates of hay, dry substance, crude protein and crude ash yields were obtained from the application of 75 kg/ha P2O5+100 kg/ha N (respectively 5175.3 kg/ha, 4814.3 kg/ha, 615.1 kg/ha ve 467.8 kg/ha). Moreover, the rate of ADF was 32.40% whereas the rate of NDF was 57.95%. Also, the average participation of the plants belonging to the families of wheat and legume and other families in botanical composition was 76.10%, 7.19% and 16.71% respectively. The participation rate of legumes in the botanical composition rose to 11.2% by means of the application of 75 kg/ha P2O5+100 kg/ha N. In the study we found that herbicide implementation increased the participation rate of wheat family in the botanical composition whereas it decreased that of the plants belonging to legume and other families. As a result, the study showed that the application in which 75 kg/ha dosage of phosphorous and 100 kg/ha dosage of nitrogen are combined without 2,4-D Amin is the most efficient rehabilitation method, considering the high rates in grass yield and quality, the decrease in the weed Ranunculus marginatus d'Urv. var. marginatus d'Urv. that is so common in the area, the increase in the participation rate of legumes in the yield, and the sustainability of the rangeland.