PROMISING CROPS AND VARIETIES OF PERENNIAL LEGUME GRASSES FOR PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF TUVA

Abstract

Results are given from comparative study of species and varieties of perennial legume grasses, being new for the forest-steppe zone of the Republic of Tuva with its pronounced continental climate: two varieties of alfalfa, three of melilot, two of clover and two of sainfoin. It has been established that alfalfa and sainfoin varieties are most winterhardy, drought resistant and fit for long-term use under conditions of Tuva. The Ogonek and SibNIIK 10 cultivars of clover were destroyed by frost in their second year. Based on this fact, we do not find clover cultivation expedient for conditions of Tuva. The melilot varieties yielded to alfalfa and sainfoin in nutritive value and palatability, but were characterized by sufficiently high drought resistance and productivity in established climatic conditions. For the years of study, the SibNIIK-30 cultivar of sainfoin and Tuyana cultivar of changeable alfalfa showed the maximum green mass yields (6.8 tons per ha) under rainfed conditions. The SibNIIK-30 cultivar of sainfoin demonstrated the greatest increase in green mass (10.8 tons per ha) at vegetative irrigation. When grown under conditions of the Republic of Tuva, the alfalfa and sainfoin varieties showed the contents of fodder units ranged from 0.50 to 0.55, and exchange energy from 7.56 to 8.22 MJ.