Evaluation of deficit irrigation for efficient sheep production from permanent sown pastures in a dry continental climate

Abstract

Deficit irrigation can be a useful management tool to increase water productivity of forage and sheep production from pastures in water deprived areas of the world. A three year study compared sheep production from permanent sown pastures on clay-loam soil in a dry continental climate that were irrigated at four levels in Konya, Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Pastures were established in 2007 with red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and irrigated with 100 (optimum irrigation), 75, 50 or 25% of their full irrigation requirement. Established pastures were grazed rotationally by flocks of weaned lambs between 2008 and 2010. Liveweight gain was approximately 2 kg ha -1 d -1 from the 100 and 75%irrigation treatments. However, lower levels of irrigation caused reductions (P < 0.01) in liveweight gains with animals gaining less than 1 kg ha -1 d -1 in the 25% irrigation treatment. Average total annual animal liveweight production was 498, 445, 380 and 198 kg ha -1 for 100, 75, 50 and 25% irrigation treatments, respectively. The water productivity of the full irrigation treatment per unit of dry matter and meat produced was low, particularly during the summer months, and it increased with deficit irrigation. Deficit irrigation between 50 and 75% of the full requirements during late spring and summer, prior to de-stocking, can provide efficient use of water when water resources are limited. The level of irrigation can be reduced further during the late summer and autumn when stocking rates and the demand for feed or energy from pastures are lower.

Effect of stocking rate on pasture and sheep production in winter and spring lambing systems

“…The LWGs obtained at LSR in 2012 were similar to the mean 78 g head -1 day -1 at the stocking rate of 107 weaned lambs ha -1 reported by Ates et al (24) in a 3-year study conducted in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. However, the growth of the weaned lambs obtained in the present study was much lower than the 251 g per head day -1 reported by Nicol et al (25) for weaned lambs grazing on irrigated perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures in an intensive lamb finishing system in New Zealand, probably due to more favorable climatic and pasture conditions as well as superior animal genetics.…”

Introductory Chapter: Addressing Past Claims and Oncoming Challenges for Irrigation Systems

“…The origins of the concept, its terminology, and its socio-political implications have also been widely discussed across the scientific community [58]. In fact, for some authors, the commitment to define a new geological period responds to the hydrocentric approach that emerged over the past two decades [59,60], which focused on managing water resources as a natural water environment duly protected. Some evidences suggest, however, that what are needed are rather hydrosupportive approaches in which water management is performed to achieve social goals, which may include, among other factors, the ability to sustain environmental functions [61].…”

Producción intensiva de carne en pasturas regadas con pivot central.

“…Estos valores son muy similares a los citados por otros autores a nivel nacional (Giorello et al, 2014;Formoso F., 2007, etc.) e internacional (Qassim et al 2008;Ates et al, 2013;Smeal et al, 2005) La información generada en estos años sugiere que la eficiencia en el uso del agua interactúa de alguna forma con los niveles nutricionales de la pastura. Tomando como referencia el nitrógeno como macronutriente de mayor importancia, se observa que la eficiencia en el uso del agua aumenta en la medida que aumentan los kg de N ingresados al sistema.…”