THE HEVBAGE YIELD OF PROMISING SAINFOIN VARIETIES IN THE ZONE OF UNSTABLE MOISTURE IN THE STAVROPOL TERRINORY

Abstract

The prospects for the development of animal husbandry are directly related to the creation of a highly productive forage base that meets the basic requirements for the balance of nutrients for animals. The purpose of these studies is to search for species and varieties of sainfoin with a high index of herbage yield, the most resistant and adapted to various natural climatic conditions. The studies were carried out in the FSBSI “North Caucasus FARC” in the zone of unstable humidification, the climate is moderately humid, the annual precipitation is 500-600 mm, and in the summer period it is 350-400 mm, HTC is 1,1-1,3. The sum of temperatures above +10°C for the period of active vegetation ranges from to 2800 to 3500°C, the soil of the experimental field is represented by a low-humus mycellar-carbonate medium loamy chernozem. The depth of the humus layer is 100-120 cm, the humus content in the arable layer is 3,2%, phosphorus is 12 mg/kg, potassium is 260 mg/kg. Out of  83 variety samples of sainfoin, 4 Hungarian and 2 common species of sainfoin were distinguished,  according to which agrobiological indices and herbage yield were evaluated. According to the results of research, it has been established that sainfoin of the variety Vasily has the highest herbage yield (40 tons/hectare) formed due to the height of the plants (120 cm), the longer average inflorescences (7 cm) and the average number of inflorescences (5 pieces). In sainfoin Rusich, due to the greater height of the plants (125 cm), the average length of the inflorescences (9 cm) and the number of inflorescences (7 pieces), the yield of herbage was 46 tons/hectare. Therefore, the varieties Vasily and Rusich are the most promising for obtaining the highest yield of herbage.