Meadow-Rangeland and Forage Crops Department history goes back to the time of Meadow-Rangeland and Livestock Research Institute. This institute was established in 1952, it was combined with Central Anatolia Region Agricultural Research Institute by Ministerial order under the frame of reorganization and new institute was renamed as The Central Research Institute For Field Crops. The study activities of the department were carried out in The Plant Breeding Department during that period.
In 1998, the establisment of Meadow-Rangeland and Forage Crops Department was requested through General Director of Agricultural Research for all institutions. After that all studies were carried out under that departement.
Plant Breeding Studies:
Breeding works have been conducted on alfalfa, sainfoin, vetches and common chickling. As a result, total 20 forage varieties were registered so far. Released variety numbers of alfalfa, sainfoin, vetches, common chickling, and small burnet were 1, 1, 16, 1, and 1, respectively.
Rangeland Management and Improvement projects:
At the same time, Rangeland Management and Improvement projects were realized. These activities are as following: Development of a Master Model with Multi-Disciplinary Appraoch for Rehabilitation and Management of Commonly Used Rangelands in the Central Anatolia of Turkey, National Rangeland Use and Management Project, The improvement project for Sustainable Rangeland Management Techniques, Rangeland Management and Improvement projects (these activities have been implemented in collaboration with the provincial directorate of food, agricultural and livestock).
Moreover, seed production and agronomy studies have been also performed.
Completed Projects:
Rangeland Management and Improvement Project
National Rangeland Use and Management Project
The improvement project for Sustainable Rangeland Management Techniques
Ongoing Projects:
Annual legume breeding project
Alfalfa breeding project
Germplasm enhancement of some plant species for use in the rehabilitation of the Central Anatolia Rangelands
Sainfoin breeding project
Rangeland management and improvement projects
Mutation Breeding Project with the Application of gamma ray in Hungarian Vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.)
Breeding of perrennial forage crops for grazing type