Abstract
The purpose of the research was to identify the productivity of forage lands on the sandy lands of the Don basin and the optimal load on them of farm animals. The objects of research were pasture ecosystems of Ust-Khopersky, Chirsky, Kazansko-Veshensky, Tsimlyansky, Golubinsky, Archedinsko-Ilovlinsky-Don sand massifs. The work is based on the methods of landscape- bioecological research and the study of the development of phytocenoses. The optimal load of farm animals during their grazing is determined, taking into account the feed capacity of pastures and recommendations for the use of forage lands are given. Overgrown sands are the most productive (1.4-3.8 t/ha). Accordingly, they withstand the greatest load of livestock. When grazing cattle, the load on them should not exceed 0.2-0.4 head / ha, when grazing horses – 0.2-0.5 head / ha, when grazing sheep and goats – 1.0-2.9 head / ha. The most vulnerable areas are open and medium-grown sands. When grazing cattle, the load on them should not exceed 0.1-0.2 head / ha, when grazing horses – 0.1-0.4 head / ha, sheep and goats – 0.4-2.1 head / ha.