Productivity of hayfield grass mixtures in Non-Chernozem Zones

From 2015 to 2024, research was conducted in the Non-Chernozem Zone to identify the most productive and sustainable grass mixtures for creating long-term hayfields. The composition of the grass mixture and the soil type were taken into account. The object of the study were 6 variants of grass mixtures, the basis of which was eastern goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) of different varieties (Gale, Yubilyar, Krivich) in single-species and four-component crops (with the addition of timothy-grass (Phleum pratense L.), awnless brome (Bromus inermis) reed canary grass (Phalaroides arundinacea (L.) Rausch), and one variant of a grass mixture without the participation of galega based on timothy-grass, awnless brome and reed canary grass. The studies were carried out on three types of soil - deeply gleyed, gleyic and gley. The assessment was carried out based on the yield of dry matter (t / ha). It was found that the highest average yield of 7.7 t / ha over the observation period was noted in the grass mixture based on eastern goat's rue of the Krivich variety on gleyic soils. Grass mixtures with the Yubilyar variety of eastern goat's rue on gley soils also demonstrated high productivity, reaching 6.9 t/ha. The Gale variety showed a slightly lower result in gleyic soils - 6.8 t/ha. In a single-species sowing of the Krivich variety of eastern goat's rue on gleyic soil, the yield averaged 7.5 t/ha. Statistical analysis confirmed the reliability of differences in yield between variants, soil types, and study years (HSD05 for partial differences 0.8-2.0). A positive effect of the inclusion of timothy grass, awnless brome, and reed canary grass in the agrocenosis on yield was revealed compared to single-species sowings of eastern goat's rue. The most stable and productive were variants with eastern goat's rue in combination with these grass species. The observed fluctuations in yield over the years are associated with the influence of weather conditions, as well as the growth and development characteristics of perennial grasses.