Comparative analysis of alfalfa varieties in the Vologda oblast

There are about 20 species of alfalfa in Russia. Alfalfa is a valuable crop of fodder, agrotechnical, ameliorative and phytosanitary importance. It is rich in all essential and necessary minerals and chemical elements and contains many rare substances that it extracts from the soil due to its developed root system. It is a fodder crop that occupies the leading place among perennial fodder crops due to its multi-cutting ability, high fresh yield and nutritive value of fodder. Alfalfa is highly winter-hardy. This indicator is greatly influenced by agrotechnics and the mode of use. Intensive use of herbage and late last cutting reduce the reserves of nutrients in the winter parts of plants, which weakens them and causes severe melting-out of crops during harsh winters. The purpose of the research was to study the productivity potential of alfalfa varieties in the Vologda Oblast. Plant height and leaf coverage were determined by the method of the All-Russian Williams Fodder Research Institute, winter hardiness of alfalfa varieties - by the method of state variety testing. The novelty of the research lies in the study and analysis of alfalfa varieties suitable for sowing in the Vologda Oblast. Analysis of yields of different alfalfa varieties showed that with the coverless sowing already in the first year, two full cuttings of green mass were obtained with an average yield of 50.9 (variety Verko) to 61.4 t/ha (variety Taisia). The maximum yield (68.5 and 64.7 t/ha) was obtained in the second year. The best indicators were obtained in the varieties Taisia and Vega 87 during the entire period of research. The analysis of the data obtained was carried out considering the climatic conditions of the Vologda Oblast.