Agrobiological methods of increase in germinating capacity of seeds of perennial legume grasses in the Middle Preduralie

The article presents the results of laboratory research of swelling rate of non-traditional for the region perennial crops: Gelega orientalis, Poterium polygamum in comparison with traditional Medicago varia Mart. Investigation of watering and swelling process was carried out by gravimetric method. Positive effect of scarification on the rate of water consumption of Galega orientalis and Medicago varia Mart is confirmed: swelling rate of Galega orientalis increased from 0.14 1/h up to 1.09 l/h, Medicago varia Mart – from 0.24 l/h up to 1.85 l/h, which is seven times more than the swelling rate of non-scarified seeds. The swelling rate of scarified seeds of Poterium polygamum conversely decreased from 1.69 l/h to 0.74 l/h. Laboratory seed germination of Galega orientalis and Medicago varia Mart with seed scarification and soaking up to 60% of water level increased threefold relative to the control variant without scarification and twofold to the control variant with scarification. Negative effect on biometric parameters of Galega orientalis and Medicago varia Mart seedlings was noted when seeds were soaked up to 100% of water level. Laboratory germination of Poterium polygamum in all experimental variants was equal to 96%. However, parameters of seedlings were different regarding experimental factors, thus biometric parameters of seedlings increased with the raise of water level in non-scarified seeds of Poterium polygamum and decreased in scarified ones.