Designing winter pastures and studying biodiversity in the western region to improve natural forage areas

Winter pastures of Azerbaijan consist of semi-desert, dry steppes, and steppe landscape areas. In such conditions, one of the most important measures for the effective use of pastures and protection of animals is the creation of pasture-protective forest belts on the borders of water sources and pasture lands. Natural forage farms (pastures, hayfields) have a large weight in the single land fund of Azerbaijan (8641506 hectares). 2.3% (11073 hectares) of the territory of the republic is mown, 21.9% (1039516 hectares) are peasant pastures, 26.4% (1256795 hectares) are winter pastures, and 5.8% (277293 hectares) are under winter pastures. As a result of research, it was found that the development of agriculture has a positive effect on the development of all social spheres of the region. The highest yield of wormwood-bulb-gooseberry formation (6.8 c/ha) is observed in the pastures of the Dzheyranchol district. The lowest yield (1.0 c/ha) is observed in wormwood-cereal communities.