Rangelands can renew itself or go backwards depending on the ecological factors. Rangelands exhibit positive, negative or neutral depending on using properties. The objective of this study was to determine rangeland health and ecological site distribution of grazed rangeland with cattle, sheep and mixed stocking in the Kargapazari Mountain Erzurum province. In the investigated rangelands, vegetation, soil and hydrology properties differed significantly. As a result of this study, it is possible to state that uncontrolled grazing with sheep gives more damage to vegetation and related resources than uncontrolled grazing with cattle in highland steppe rangelands where short grasses are dominated. But forbs of sheep taken under pressure should not be ignored. In conclusion, for sustainable use of steppe rangeland, providing suitable grazing season and grazing capacity, sheep and cattle herds can graze as mixture.

Rangeland areas have great value as a quality source of roughage for livestock. As these areas lose their productivity, grazable areas within the forest will become alternative sources of forage for livestock. Therefore, determining the quality and quantity of forest gap understory vegetation at different tree frequencies is very important for efficient management of livestock and sustainable natural resources. This study was carried out in Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests to determine the forage quality of forest gap understories. The study area was separated into three different sites (open site, sparse site and dense site) based on tree canopy coverage. Among the examined plots, it was determined that dry matter yields were 823 -1,486 kg ha -1 , Crude Protein (CP) 9.59 -12.87 %; Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) 53.27 -58.49 %; Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) 32. ranged between 95.32 -112.32. The highest CP, NDF, and ADF contents and the lowest dry matter yield were found in the densely tree-covered area. While dry matter yield decreased, the contents of CP, ADF and NDF increased with increasing tree canopy density. In conclusion, the forest gaps (open and sparse tree canopy) can be used for grazing under sustainable grazing management practices to alleviate forage shortages in the region and provide extra income for rural people. This practice can contribute to sustainable rural development of understory grazing in the forest and forest edge settlements.

The frequency of irrigation and deficit irrigation management are drawing attention because water resources are becoming limited year by year, especially in the last decade. Besides, the rate and application time of P fertilization gained more importance just after the researchers found out it is more effective than N-fertilizing for alfalfa cultivation. This study aimed to determine the effects of different irrigation managements (seasonal deficit, intervals of 5, 7, and 9 days), phosphorus application season (autumn and spring), and the rate of P fertilizer (0, 30, 60, 90 kg ha-1) on the yield and forage quality of alfalfa. The experiment was conducted in the 2019-2020 years, which was the 3rd and the 4th years of alfalfa respectively, under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. The stand height and fiber content (NDF) were higher in the autumn application. However, forage contained more nitrogen in the spring application. A higher amount of water (800 mm) with higher irrigation frequency (5 days – I5d) caused a reduction in yield due to water excess. The yield was the highest (21.34 t ha-1) and the forage quality was better in 448 mm water application with 9 days intervals (I9d). Seasonal deficit water management caused a significant loss in yield and quality. Nevertheless, 18.04 t ha-1 dry matter yield with 24.05 % CP content was recorded at seasonal deficit water management. P fertilization increased the yield and forage quality. The yield was the highest (20.23 t ha-1) at the rate of 90 kg ha-1 P fertilizer, but yield and forage quality characteristics were similar between 30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1 P. The results showed that P fertilization could be done in both autumn and spring at the rate of 30 kg ha-1 and 448 mm water could be applied at 9 days intervals for fulfilling performance under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. When water resources are very scarce, the seasonal water deficit should be applied, especially in late summer.