FORMATION OF AGRO-PHYTOCENOSES OF PERENNIAL LEGUMES DEPENDING ON HYDROTHERMAL RESOURCES

This article presents the research findings on the productivity of perennial legumes under varying hydrothermal conditions. The study highlights the resilience of Onobrychis arenaria to abiotic stress, which resulted in the highest dry matter yield of 13.17 t/ha and crude protein content of 16.21 g/kg. Medicago sativa showed a gross dry matter yield of 10.12 t/ha with 17.22 g/kg of crude protein, while Trifolium pratense was less productive than Onobrychis arenaria but outperformed Medicago sativa by 125% in dry matter yield. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the growth and development processes of perennial legumes in order to improve forage production under different hydrothermal conditions. The research was conducted on gray forest soils with medium loam at the Department of Field Forage Crops, Meadows, and Pastures of the Institute of Forage and Agriculture of Podillia NAAS. The agrochemical analysis of the soil was performed at the Vinnytsia branch of the State Soil Protection Institute of Ukraine. Standard plow cultivation techniques were used, and selected legume varieties were sown to assess their productivity. The findings revealed that Onobrychis arenaria consistently achieved the highest growth rates, with a height of 94 cm in the first cut, compared to Trifolium pratense and Medicago sativa. Subsequent years showed increased precipitation and a favorable hydrothermal coefficient, contributing to higher yields in all three crops, with Onobrychis arenaria maintaining its lead in dry matter production. The study concludes that Onobrychis arenaria was the most resilient to abiotic factors, providing an average dry matter yield of 13.17 t/ha and a crude protein content of 16.21 g/kg. Medicago sativa produced 10.12 t/ha of dry matter with 17.22 g/kg of crude protein, while Trifolium pratense outperformed Medicago sativa by 125% in dry matter yield. Further research is recommended to explore the response of these crops to varying soil moisture levels.