UDC 631.33
DOI 10.36461/NP.2025.74.2.017

METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR IMPROVING DEGRADED MOUNTAIN MEADOWS AND PASTURES
L. R. Gulueva, Research Officer
North-Caucasian Research Institute of Hill and Foot-hill Agriculture – branch of Federal State Budgetary Research Institution of Federal Research Centre "Vladikavkaz Scientific Centre of RAS",
Mikhaylovskoye, Russia, е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The author presents the results of research and development and a new device for restoring mountain meadows and pastures. It was found that there is a lack of small, maneuverable equipment for the treatment of small-scale degraded mountain areas with the method of supplementary sowing of grass seeds in mountainous terrain. The purpose of the study is to identify techniques and equipment for mountain areas that improve the productivity and yield of meadows and pastures. Specially developed small mechanization devices installed on a maneuverable Feng Shou 180 mini-tractor is used. This method and equipment are used for surface sowing of grass seeds and slit cutting in barren mountain areas with low yields. The object of the study is the design parameters of the device and the possibilities for increasing the yield of perennial grasses on fodder-producing area after its use. The following was evaluated: the effect of the presented technology for improvement by technical means on the changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the vegetation cover. The experiments were carried out in the village of Dargavs in North Ossetia at the research facility of the North-Caucasian Research Institute of Hill and Foot-hill Agriculture. The methodology of the equipment tests was carried out in accordance with GOST 31345-2017 "Agricultural machinery. Tractor seeders. Test methods".
The surface application of grass seeds was carried out in accordance with the application standards. It was found that the laboratory sample of the device meets the agrotechnical requirements and technical specifications, the grass yield has increased by 90-170% in different areas, and the botanical composition of the grass has changed, which has contributed to the improvement of fodder quality.
Keywords: grass mixtures, meadows, pastures, aggregate, mountains, slopes, mini tractor.

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