Productivity of alfalfa, alfalfa-cereal and cereal agrophytocenoses

Purpose. To determine the feed productivity, symbiotic nitrogen accumulation, solar FAR utilization by perennial grass stands, and mineral fertilizer payback depending on cereal components of alfalfa-grass agrophytocenoses on different fertilization and liming backgrounds. Methods. Field (phenological observations and records of dry matter yield), laboratory (determination of dry matter yield), mathematical and statistical (evaluation of the experimental data). Results. The article presents the results of research conducted in 2019-2024 under three-time mowing, with an emphasis on annual changes in species composition and feed productivity of alfalfa-grass agrophytocenoses with different grass stands on dark gray soils of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. During the first three years, agrophytocenoses with a 43-63% share of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were formed. Alfalfa accumulated 182-239 kg/ha of symbiotically fixed nitrogen. The feed productivity of agrophytocenoses with alfalfa averaged 9.30-10.91 t/ha of dry matter, which is 2.4-3.0 times higher than that of purely cereal agrophytocenoses. Stably high productivity over the years was achieved by pure alfalfa agrophytocenoses and agrophytocenoses formed from binary mixtures of alfalfa with meadow timothy (Phleum pretense), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia), awnless bromegrass (Bromopsis inermis) or eastern fescue (Festuca orientalis) during mowing. Conclusions. When restoring meadowlands on arable lands on dark gray soils of Ukraine, uncovered alfalfa-grass mixtures with the introduction of 1.5 t/ha of lime and annually P45K90 stably for six years provides the productivity of forage agrophytocenoses at the level of 9.30-10.91 t/ha of dry weight, which is 2.4-3.0 times higher compared to cereal agrophytocenosis.