Seed productivity of variegated alfalfa at different growing methods

The widespread introduction of variegated alfalfa into production is hindered by a shortage of seeds and difficulties in cultivating it in the year of sowing. The study of the influence of cover crops on the seed productivity of variegated alfalfa of the Darya variety was carried out in 2018-2020, characterized by various weather conditions, in the experimental field of the separate division "Penza Research Institute" of the Federal Research Center for Bast Crops. When studying the formation of the elements of the crop structure, it was found out that the largest seed mass was obtained on non-bloodless alfalfa crops - 28.1...29.7 g/m2. It was lower by 10...24% on the sub-blood, but the optimal conditions for its development are formed when sowing for barley, harvested for grain and annual grasses - for green fodder. The plant density at the same time was 40 ... 41 pcs. / m2, the productive stem – 2.7 pcs./plant, the number of twigs on the stem – -47 pcs., 347...349 seeds were collected from each plant, and 12948 and 13305 pieces with a stable mass of 1000 seeds – 1.97...2.03 g were collected from each plant, and from a square meter - 12948 and 13305 pieces with a stable mass of 1000 seeds-1.97 ... 2.03 g. The maximum seed yield of 297 kg/ha was obtained when alfalfa was sown without cover with herbicidal treatment of weed vegetation. Alfalfa of under-cover sowing reduced seed productivity by 29 ... 72 kg/ha. Among cover crops, optimal conditions are created under vico-oat mixture harvested for green fodder and under barley-for grain, where the seed yield was 268 and 260 kg / ha, respectively.