Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Formation and utilisation of alfalfa sward under the soil and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe

Nadiya Hetman, Borys Danyliuk, Lesia Burko
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Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the optimal combination of sowing rate and complex mineral fertilisers for the formation of a productive alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) sward of the ‘Radoslava’ variety under the soil and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe. The experiment was conducted on grey forest soils during 2024-2025 using a three-factor design: sowing rates of 6.0 and 8.0 million viable seeds per hectare, two harvesting periods, and three levels of mineral nutrition. It was established that in the year of sowing (2024), the crop reached the beginning of flowering stage (BBCH code 61-62) after 69-70 days, with a daylight duration of 14:53-16:12 hours, and provided three cuts with a total green matter yield of up to 33.13 t/ha. The greatest plant height in the first cut was 66.1-66.3 cm at a sowing rate of 6.0 million/ha and maximum fertilisation (Background +K₆₀S₂₀Ca₃₀Mg₂₀), whereas in the third cut it decreased to 21.2-30.3 cm due to reduced daylight duration and increased temperature. On average across the treatments, plant height ranged from 36.00 to 42.93 cm, while leafiness ranged from 33.74 to 40.77%. In the second year (2025), across three cuts at the beginning of flowering stage (BBCH code 64), the average plant height was 61.4-61.8 cm, leafiness was 53.0-54.3%, and green matter yield reached 75.8 t/ha. The statistical significance of factor effects was confirmed by LSD₀.₀₅. It was determined that the optimal combination was a sowing rate of 6.0 million/ha with increased fertilisation (Background +K₆₀S₂₀Ca₃₀Mg₂₀), which ensured the highest total green matter yield with minimal risks of moisture deficiency under the unstable hydrothermal conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe

Keywords

sowing rate; mineral fertilisers; plant height; leafiness; green matter yield; mowing time

Suggested citation
Hetman, N., Danyliuk, B., & Burko, L. (2026). Formation and utilisation of alfalfa sward under the soil and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 22(3),136-146. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/3.2026.136
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