Influence of sowing time on the yield of fodder grasses

Abstract

Cultivated alfalfa is a species native to the Middle East and the most abundant food species in the world. In much of the dry steppe zone of Western Kazakhstan, it is the most important legume fodder crop grown for hay, dehydrated feed, pellets and silage. Alfalfa is also particularly important for restoring soil fertility: without the cost of nitrogen, residues increase soil organic matter, the root system mobilizes nutrients deep in the soil profile and soil, improves structure, water permeability and water retention. In addition, alfalfa requires only a small amount of herbicides and pesticides and no N-fertilization. This is consistent with EU policy and public concern about the environmental impact of agricultural activities. Alfalfa hay fields have also been shown to be highly beneficial for enriching biodiversity. Its high protein content meets the demands of the feed market, especially after the problems caused by the use of concentrates of animal origin, currently banned in the EU. The process of growth and development of plants is directly related to the biological characteristics of their development. All available phenological observations of the growth and development of crops provide an assessment of the conditions that ensure their productivity. The peculiarities of the growth and development of plants, caused by the deficiencies of at least one of the conditions of their vital activity, lead to a delay, and sometimes to a cessation of their growth. In this regard, the intensity of growth, and with this the level of their fodder significance, can serve as indicators of their provision with the necessary living conditions.