Selection varieties of meadow clover with high productive qualities for the conditions of the Volgo-Vyatka region

Abstract

The results of evaluation of five breeding varieties of meadow clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in terms of fodder and seed productivity are presented. Breeding varietal populations of P-15, GPF-49-3, GPF-86-3 SGPF-159-3, SGPF-159-3 + SGP-117 of the double-cut type were investigated in comparison with the standard Dymkovsky for 3 years of economic use of grass stands (2020-2022) in a competitive varietal trial of 2019 sowing. The studies were conducted on strongly acidic (рНKC1 = 4,47) sod-podzolic soils with high content of exchangeable forms of phosphorus and potassium (192.5 and 217.9 mg/kg), low – humus (2.2%). The weather conditions in the years of research were characterized as moderately warm. The average monthly air temperature for April-August amounted to 13.0-15.6 °C with different precipitation supply: in 2020 – excessive, in 2021 – with a slight deficit, in 2022 – close to normal. During the years of research, high winter hardiness of all the studied varieties (more than 80%) was established. The duration of plant development periods in the varieties at mowed and seed use of grass stands was determined. The economic and biological characteristics of the varieties were given, describing the nature of the changes in plant height and foliage, fodder and seed productivity in comparison with the standard Dymkovsky. Two breeding varieties GPF-49-3 and P-15 have been identified based on the results of this research. The winter hardiness of these varieties was 92.6 and 96.9 %, total dry matter yield for 2 years – 21.90 and 21.56 t/ha (+12.7 and 11.0 % to the standard) and the seed yield on average for 2 years – 1.72 and 2.14 kg/ha (+8.9 and +35.4 % to the standard). These varieties are promising for testing in the Volga-Vyatka region and are suitable for state variety trials.