Igor Kuznetsov1, Ilgiz Asylbaev2, Alexey Dmitriev3, Asiya Nizaeva4, Anvar Shakirzyanov4. 1. Department of Plant Growing, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Federal State Budgetary Educational Establishment of Higher Education "Bashkir State Agrarian University", Ufa, Russian Federation. kuznetsov_igor437@rambler.ru. 2. Department of Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Precision Farming, Federal State Budgetary Educational Establishment of Higher Education "Bashkir State Agrarian University", Ufa, Russian Federation. 3. Department of Plant Growing, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Federal State Budgetary Educational Establishment of Higher Education "Bashkir State Agrarian University", Ufa, Russian Federation. 4. Bashkir Research Institute of Agriculture-A Separate Structural Division of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russian Federation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops, but its seed productivity varies from year to year due to weather conditions. Alfalfa is a forage crop rich in nutrients which makes it valuable. The present 5-year study aimed to identify the promising alfalfa varieties based on their economic and biological characteristics, such as high seed productivity, a high yield of forage mass, good quality, and stress resistance. RESULTS: The study contributes information about the promising varieties of alfalfa characterized by high biomass and seed productivity. Varieties such as P-88044, U-73+149 and S-302 had stable seed/green mass yields regardless of climatic conditions; hence, they may be used for alfalfa selection in the southern forest-steppe regions of Bashkortostan. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings can be used for alfalfa selection in the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russia). In addition, the results will be of interest to crop breeders across the globe.
BACKGROUND: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops, but its seed productivity varies from year to year due to weather conditions. Alfalfa is a forage crop rich in nutrients which makes it valuable. The present 5-year study aimed to identify the promising alfalfa varieties based on their economic and biological characteristics, such as high seed productivity, a high yield of forage mass, good quality, and stress resistance. RESULTS: The study contributes information about the promising varieties of alfalfa characterized by high biomass and seed productivity. Varieties such as P-88044, U-73+149 and S-302 had stable seed/green mass yields regardless of climatic conditions; hence, they may be used for alfalfa selection in the southern forest-steppe regions of Bashkortostan. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings can be used for alfalfa selection in the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russia). In addition, the results will be of interest to crop breeders across the globe.