Abstract
This study focuses on the impact of rotational grazing on pasture productivity, forage value of pasture herbage, and other quantitative and qualitative indicators to ensure pasture sustainability for livestock development in southern Kazakhstan. Geobotanical surveys were conducted to determine species composition, projective cover, height, and seasonal yield (spring, summer), along with quality indicators assessing the nutritional and energy-protein value of pasture vegetation under the conditions of the 2024 agricultural year. The results show that rotational grazing plays a significant role in increasing pasture productivity and strengthening the forage base in the clay desert zone of southern Kazakhstan. The average projective cover of wormwood-saltwort-mixed grass pastures in the clay desert during the spring-summer-autumn seasons was 45.0–46.0% under rotational sheep grazing, compared to 37.0% under intensive (unsystematic) use—anincrease of 24.32% on average. In this pasture type, the number of plant species, influenced by phenological developmentof the majority of solanceous species, slightly increases from spring to the summer-autumn season, reaching 25–28 species under intensive use and 31–44 species on average under rotational grazing.Similar trends were observed in the average height of pasture vegetation. A characteristic feature of these clay desert pastures is the later development of most saltwort species. Consequently, the average vegetation height gradually increases to the later dates of their development, reaching 10–14 cm in spring, 13–18 cm in summer, and 15–22 cm in autumn under intensive grazing. In contrast, under rotational grazing, where pasture areas change seasonally, the average height was 15–20 cm in spring, 17–22 cm in summer, and 18–24 cm in autumn, which is 13.33–22.22% higher. The significant reduction in average vegetation height under intensive grazing is due to the unsystematic use of pastures without seasonal rotation. With proper management and the application of seasonal rotational grazing, the wormwood-saltwort-mixed grass pastures of the clay desert in the study areas exhibit relatively high total biomass yield and sheep-consumed forage reserves. The total forage productivity of these pastures in the spring season averages 5.69 c/ha of dry forage mass, with a consumable forage reserve of 3.90 c/ha