Aspects of forage bushland rereclamation in the North-West of Russia
This investigation studied the effect of wood products applied into soil on grass productivity and green mass quality. The crop rotation included: annual grasses and overseeding with perennial crops - perennial grasses. Microplot trial took place on the old Tosna river lowland in 2017 on the base of OOO “Sofiya” . Sod-podzolic gleyic soil had high amount of clay, рН<sub>KCl</sub> of 4.27, medium content of soluble P and high concentration of exchange K. Experimental design - two-factorial. Factor A - wood product: chips (5-15 cm) - 100 t ha<sup>-1</sup>, waste (1-5 cm) -100 t ha<sup>-1</sup>, biochar - 10 t ha<sup>-1 </sup>and ash - 1.05 t ha<sup>-1</sup>. Factor B - new fertility restoration system - complex of chemical ameliorants: poultry manure (20 and 40 t ha<sup>-1</sup>), row grinded dolomite (10 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) and potassium fertilizers (K<sub>70</sub> and K<sub>140</sub>). Wood products applied into soil sharply decreased forage quality and productivity of the first crop. Combination of modern cultivation technologies and chemicals effectively improved land quality. Crop productivity increased by 42%, under the biochar treatment - by 54%. Gross yield of crude protein rose by 64 and 85%, respectively. Its content amounted to 1.50 t ha<sup>-1</sup> in the control, 1.29 and 2.46 t ha<sup>-1 </sup>- for factors A and B, respectively.