Fodder Crop Production
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2011-02-28 20:24 Updated: 2019-08-07 13:37
Compilers: Faruk Ocakoglu
Reviewers: Deborah Niggli, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Türkiye
- Region/ State/ Province: Eskişehir
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Keskin Watershed
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Production of fodder crops every year both for feeding livestock and increasing soil fertility.
Detailed description of the Technology
Fodder crops (maize, alfalfa, sainfoin, common vetch, triticale, oat, fodder beet, wheat and barley) are grown for hay production for livestock feeding. Growing fodder crops is a part of sustainable agriculture. The soil is protected in dry farming areas by covering the soil surface and leguminous fodder species (alfalfa, sainfoin, common vetch), which increases the soil fertility by nitrogen fixation. Applying the technology does not require extra inputs different from other agricultural crops. All that is needed is to identify a crop rotation plan including fodder production and regular agricultural crops.
Purpose of the Technology: Different fodder crops (legumineous and gramineous plants) are produced to feed the farmers’ own livestock. By enabling widespread and dense surface cover, It helps both in dry farming and irrigated areas to protect the soil from water and wind erosion.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Usually the soil is first ploughed. Soil cultivation machinery (tractor, disc plough, wide-sweep cultivator, disc harrow, fertilizer and seed drill) is used to prepare the soil for cultivation, to fertilize the soil and to sow the seeds. After seeding and growing of the crops, special machinery is used for harvesting.
Natural / human environment: Farmers who produce both livestock and field crops in particular can use this technology and get an improved benefit. They can increase income and at the same time protect their soil.
Photos of the Technology
- 📷 İnci Tolay, Eskişehir
- 📍 Eskişehir
- 🗓 2008-10-04
- 📷 Anonymous, Eskişehir, Turkey
- 📍 Eskişehir
- 🗓 2008-10-04
- 📷 İnci Tolay, Eskişehir (Turkey)
- 📷 İnci Tolay, Eskişehir