THE IMPORTANCE OF FORAGE CROPS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

In traditional agriculture, there are many harmful effects for environment in obtaining adequate and quality food production which is need for rapidly growing world population. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used for resolving the lack of nutrients and improving the fertility in soil, bring important hazards with the time. This creates unfavorable condition for the concept of sustainable agriculture that on the basis of conserve the natural resources without damaging cycle of ecological agriculture. Forage crops which have an important role in conserving soil fertility, have the possibility of being a solution against the harmful effects caused by traditional agriculture. Forage crops that need to be emphasized more in the concept of sustainable agriculture, are cultivated in high rates in developed countries, despite it is not being sufficiently in Turkey. Furthermore rangelands decrease their fertility and quality because of excessive and untimely grazing for supplying quality roughage that is needed by animals. Erosion problem is increasing as a result of weak vegetation in rangelands and therefore the plant diversity is damaged in Turkey where has 12 000 plant species 3 600 endemic species. So the loss of plant diversity is not only problem for Turkey, it is very important for the world. One of the way to prevent this problem are sustainable agriculture activities.