Abstract
The development of a sustainable forage base is one of the key factors for livestock production in Northern Kazakhstan. In the forest-steppe zone of the region, natural pastures are characterized by low productivity due to grassland degradation, insufficient presence of valuable forage species, and irrational land use practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity and forage value of various forage agrophytocenoses composed of perennial legume and grass species intended for haymaking and pasture use. Field experiments were conducted during 2024–2025 on the production fields of “Service-ZHARS” LLP located in the Kyzylzhar district of the North Kazakhstan region. Nine agrophytocenosis variants, including monocultures and multi-component grass mixtures, were studied. Plant height, stand density, green and dry biomass yield, and forage nutritional value were assessed. The results showed that legume-grass agrophytocenoses demonstrated the highest productivity. The “Green Line Alpha Protein” mixture (75% alfalfa Medicago sativa L. + 25% tall fescue Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) produced the highest yield in the second year of growth, reaching 191.2 c/ha of green biomass and 49.3 c/ha of dry matter, which was 4.4 times higher than that of the natural pasture control. High productivity was also recorded for the mixtures “Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) + alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.)” and “sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) + festulolium + timothy grass ( Phleum pratense L.)”. The obtained results confirm the prospects of using legume-grass agrophytocenoses to improve pasture productivity and strengthen the forage base of livestock farming in Northern Kazakhstan.