Influence of cultivation techniques on productivity and quality of meadow clover

Abstract

Meadow clover (red clover) is the most important fodder plant in most parts of Russia. Positive characteristics of this plant are the presence of a significant amount of reserve nutrients (crude protein, protein, nitrogenfree extractive substances) in the composition of plant tissues, which provides high fodder value. As a legume, meadow clover accumulates in the soil organically bound nitrogen, a large amount of organic mass of crop root residues, enriching the soil with nutrients and contributing to the increase of its physical and mechanical properties. The disadvantage of this crop is its short productive life. In this regard, it is necessary to intensify the cultivation methods for a short period of use in order to obtain the greatest return from the crop in the fodder and agronomic aspect. Intensification of cultivation methods means everything that contributes to the increase of plant productivity: application of mineral and organic fertilizers to improve mineral nutrition, inoculation of seeds before sowing to mobilize and activate soil microflora and productive symbiosis between plants and microbiota, use of growth regulators to optimize photosynthesis processes. The study of the influence of these intensification methods was the purpose of our research. It was found that the use of estimated doses of mineral fertilizers contributed most optimally to the processes of yield formation and final productivity of clover grass. Among all the strains of nodule bacteria studied, inoculant strain 348a was the most effective because it is speciesspecific for meadow clover. The use of growth regulators Ribav Extra and Root Super is a positive technique that provides optimal growth and development of plants during vegetation. The methods studied also had a positive effect on the seed productivity of the clover plants, increasing yield and seed quality.