Range fertilization by machinery
The fertilization of ranges by machinery can take place with many methods by applying the fertilizerdistributor machines as long as the machinery is suitable to satisfy the purpose of fertilization (heavy – light fertilization, strengthening of plants, the completion of a serious lack, speed and economy of labor). A sufficient machine that can be applied for the fertilization of ranges is the fertilizer-distributor with a rotation disc attached to a tractor. Its efficiency ranges from 20-40 stremmata/hour depending on the tractor’s speed. The best speed for an efficient effect is 3-6 Km/h. The big gradient of the ground (bigger than 20%) can operate restrictively for the above application.
Improvement and design of roads for the transportation of livestock products
As every productive activity so the animal husbandry requires management and connection with the grassland environment and resources. Because of the transportation of animals and rough ages must be fast and safe, a good and durable road network is required. For this reason the forest engineer must calculate the strength of soil (CBR) the type of vehicles (two or three axles) and the load as equivalent axles and to, design an aggregate surfaced road for the increase of bearing capacity with the help of USDA equation. In this paper a such design for the grasslands of Iasmos Rodopis is presented.
Οpening-up of rangelands
The purpose of opening-up of rangelands is the planning, ruling and construction of the necessary infrastructure, which will contribute to their approachement. The easy access to the rangelands will help in the improvement of the working conditions, their better development, the improvement of vegetation and the increase of the production of rangelands. The main criteria of opening-up of rangelands are different from those referred to the opening-up of forests, where wood is considered to be the main product. The goal of this paper is to determine the main criteria, which influence the opening-up of the rangelands and to present the necessary data, which determine the quantity and quality of the opening-up, aiming at the maximization of the profit, protection of the natural resources and generally the welfare of the society in each area.
Effect of clipping intensity on forage production and quality of Amorpha fruticosa L.
In the Mediterranean zone woody fodder species are important feed sources, especially during the summer-autumn period when herbaceous species are of limited supply and dry. The effect of different clipping intensity of the current growth (30% and 60%) compared to control (0%) to production and quality of Amorpha fruticosa foliage (leaves and twigs) was studied. The clipping conducted at three different phenological stages. Forage production of the 60% clipping intensity treatment was significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) compared to the 30% clipping intensity and the control. There was no difference between the two treatments in forage quality, which remain high during the tested periods.
Effects of grazing on fodder quality of some introduced woody species in a semi-arid grassland during the summer period
Fodder quality in relation to the effect of grazing by sheep was studied for the woody species Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditsia triacanthos, Amorpha fruticosa and Morus alba. The study was conducted in a semi arid grassland with poor sandy soil in Northern Greece. Proper grazing was applied twice in the summer period (early July and late August) of 1992, 1993 and 1994. Crude protein content of forage production was maintained by grazing, while neutral and acid detergent fiber content was decreased significantly. Crude protein content in Robinia and Amorpha was significantly higher than the other species. Τhere was a tendency for an increased in vitro digestibility for the grazing treatment in comparison to control (56% and 53.1% respectively).
