Grassland, Establishment of

(Russian, zaluzhenie), the covering of land with grass, either naturally or artificially. When grasslands are established naturally, denuded areas, clearings, and overgrazed pastures become covered with grass over a long period of time. In the artificial establishment of grassland, perennial grasses are sown immediately after the sod has been well cultivated (the so-called accelerated establishment of grassland), or grass mixtures are sown after one or two years of cultivation of annual crops. Grassland is sown in order to increase the productivity of natural grassland and to control soil erosion.