Effect of seeding rate and row spacing on the height of Medicago sativa plants

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to identify the influence of cultivation technology elements on the parameters of Medicago sativa plant height of different geographical origin. Methods. Field, measurement, statistical methods. Research results. Observations showed that in the year of sowing during the vegetation of Medicago sativa its stalks were stunted and ranged within 28.0—33.3 cm irrespective of the seeding rate, varietal features and row spacing. In the second year of life in the budding phase, the plant growth rates of the varieties maintained throughout the growing season, whereas in the early flowering phase, they varied according to mowing and had a sinusoidal nature. The intensity of growth processes in the third year of life changed and in the budding phase of Medicago sativa it remained stable only in the first-second mowing ranging within 61.3—69.3 cm, whereas in the third-fourth mowing the indicators decreased from 59.1 up to 44.5 cm, or 10.2—16.8 cm. In the flowering phase, plant height was the highest in the first mowing and reached 99.7—101.4 cm, which decreased to 55.2 in the second and third mowing to 59.6 cm, or by 39.5—41.8 cm, regardless of the factors studied. Conclusions. The tendency towards the decrease in plant height with reduction of row spacing to 12.5 cm and increase of seeding rate and its growth at row spacing of 25 cm was revealed. The sinusoidal nature of Medicago sativa formation according to mowing both between the varieties and row spacing was established.