Perennial leguminous grasses for irrigation are a guarantee of sustainable feed production in the Lower Volga region

Abstract

Purpose: to develop rational combinations of species and varieties of perennial leguminous grasses, soil water and nutrient regimes, which will contribute to obtaining stable fodder yields with high levels of protein and energy content. Materials and methods. Research is being carried out on perennial leguminous grasses on the experimental field of the institute. The experiment is three-factor and includes three options for maintaining the pre-irrigation soil moisture limit (60, 70 and 80 % of the lowest moisture capacity), three options for the soil nutritional regime (NPK₁, NPK₂ and control – without fertilizers), eight types of legumes are studied according to the third factor. The generally accepted experimental methods were used when setting up experiments and conducting research. Results. In the full germination phase there were from 294 to 386 plants of grass species per 1 sq. m. Their height before harvesting varied according to the experimental variants from 0.60 to 1.01 m in the first cutting, from 0.38 to 0.94 m in the second and from 0.25 to 0.66 m in the third cutting. The grass stand total water consumption in the year of seeding was 4.2–4.7 thous. cub. m/ha, increasing in subsequent years to 4.8–5.7 thous. cub. m/ha. The soil water regime and fertilizers had a significant impact on crop yield. In control options with a pre-irrigation limit of 60 % of the lowest moisture capacity, the green mass yield in the second year was 26.6–40.9 t/ha. With improved soil nutrition and good water supply, the yield increased to 48.2–87.8 t/ha. Sainfoin and blue-hybrid and variegated alfalfa plants responded to the improved growing conditions most actively; 54–88 t/ha of green mass were gathered from these sites during the season. Conclusions. Selection of optimal combinations of soil water and nutrient regimes, as well as the new promising perennial leguminous grasses species and varieties introduction into the field feed production in the Lower Volga region will ensure high and stable yields of fodder rich in energy and nutrients.

Keywords

• perennial leguminous grasses
• soil water regime
• soil nutritional regime
• yield
• feed value