Purpose. To theoretically substantiate the methodology for the accelerated determination of the sowing qualities (express method) of seeds of leguminous and cereal grasses, in particular germination capacity, the amount of hard seeds and viability in comparison with the defining those indicators according to the State standard of Ukraine (SStU 4138-2002), international methodology (ISTA – International seed testing association). Methods. Quantitative, laboratory, mathematical-statistical, observation, comparison, analysis and synthesis. Results. Determination of sowing qualities (germination energy, germination rate, amount of hard seeds) of forage crops according to the methods of SStU 4138-2002; ISTA (international rules for the analysis of seeds) and the express method of accelerated determination, showed the high efficiency and effectiveness of the latter (improved method of swelling seeds of leguminous grasses and preparatory caving of films and swelling of seeds of cereal grasses), which can be used in production conditions to obtain objective information on the sowing properties of seeds of the formed harvest. Conclusions. The express method can be used to determine the viability of legume grass seeds within 3-4 hours by establishing the difference between the number of live and dead seeds. The data obtained are close to the germination rates when analyzing seeds according to the SStU 4138-2002 and ISTA methods and make up 90-95; 93-95; 92-95% respectively. Germination of seeds of cereal grasses using the caryopsis method allows determining the viability of seeds on the 2nd-5th day in species with high germination energy (Bromus inermis, different types of Lolium perenne) and 7th-10th day in species with slow germination (Festuca rubra L). Seed germination of these species according to the express method was 84- 92%, while according to the SStU 4138-2002 and ISTA methods it made up 91-94; 90-96%, and the analysis was carried out on the 10th and 21st day.

Purpose. To develop the element for regulating the formation of seed yield and the seeding properties of Bromus inermis through the application of Medax Top growth regulator from the time of tillering to the stem elongation of seed crops. To establish its effect on the growth of plants, their height, productive density, the number and mass of grains in inflorescences, the power of growth and seed germination. Methods. Field, visual, measuring, weight, quantitative, test sheaf method, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. The results of scientific research aimed at creating favorable conditions for the formation of seed productivity of Bromus inermis and its seeding properties through the application of Medax Top plant growth regulator in the sixth-eighth period of organogenesis, i.e. from the beginning of tillering to the stem elongation of seed crops are presented. Its effect on increasing plant resistance to lodging, reducing plant height, increasing productive shoot formation, the number and mass of grains in inflorescence, improving seeding properties, in particular, the power of growth and seed germination, which contributed to the formation of seed yield of 343—354 kg/ha or 47—58 kg/ha more compared to the control without application of the plant growth regulator. Conclusions. Application of Medax Top plant growth regulator at the rate of 0.5—1.0 l/ha in the seed crops of Bromus inermis of Vseslav cultivar during the growing season is effective from the beginning of tillering to the stem formation, it contributes to an increase in its seed productivity by 5.0—21.2 % and provides conditional net profit of 5,179—5,288 UAH/ha.

Purpose. To investigate the germination features and sowing properties of seeds of the Danaya creeping trefoil, Vilia hybrid clover, Ajax Lotus corniculatus varieties. To establish the features of improving the sowing properties of seeds, in particular, germination energy, viability, and spread by the seeds pathogenic microorganisms damage reducing. Methods. Measuring, visual, quantitative, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. The method for pre-sowing improvement of sowing properties of the creeping trefoil and hybrid clover seeds has been developed by treating them with the bacterial preparations Rizobofit (strain of the bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii) and of Lotus corniculatus (strain of the bacterium Mesorhizobum loti) in the amount of 0.15 l per hectare seed normative or treating them with the Ahrohumat anti-stress agent – 0.2 l/t of seeds, which contributes to the increase in germination energy by 6-9%, viability – by 7-10%, and spread – by 5-10%. Conclusions. The influence of pre-sowing treatment of seeds of pasture leguminous grasses on the formation of sowing qualities of the creeping trefoil, hybrid clover and Lotus corniculatus has been established. It is effective to Treating the seeds with the bacterial preparation Rizobofit strains depending on the legume variety (150 ml per hectare norm of seeds) or the anti-stress agent Agrogumat (200 ml / t of seeds) showed its effectiveness, it contributed to the increase in germination energy, viability and growing power of seeds by 6-9, 7-11 and 5-10%. Growth regulators Saprogum (70 ml/t) and Biosil (25 ml/t) were somewhat less effective, the indicators were 3-5% lower compared to the other above mentioned preparations.

Due to biological characteristics of the varieties and their genetic potential, against the background of applying the main fertilizer under the cover crop, half of the norm of lime fertilizer Ca(OH)2 (fluff) – 1.2 t/ha in combination with the mineral fertilizers in the dose of N30P60K60 (control) on average for 2017—2018 a seed crop of hyacinth Ajax and Gelon 367 and 366 kg/ha was formed. The pre-sowing treatment of seeds of bovine Rhizobophyte with the bacterial preparation Rizobofit of the strain of the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti (0.15 l per hectare seed rate) contributed to the increase in seed productivity of the bovine Ajax and Gelon varieties by 78 and 87 kg/ha or 21.4 and 23.8 % compared to with control and amounted to 445 and 453 kg/ha, respectively, due to improved nitrogen nutrition of plants, an increase in the mass and number of nodule bacteria of the symbiotic apparatus on the root system of small cattle. It turned out to be effective to apply foliar nutrition of Lotus corniculatus in the stalking phases and additionally during the budding of plants with the anti-stress agent Agrogumat (0.4 l/ha), which ensured the average yield of Ajax and Gelon varieties from 464 and 467 kg/ha, or 97; 101 kg/ha or 26.6; 27.6 % more compared to control without foliar nutrition. It turned out to be less effective to apply foliar nutrition with the preparations Biosil (0.02 l/ha) and Aminokat 30 (0.6 l/ha). The greatest influence on the formation of generative organs (beans) was observed during foliar nutrition with anti-stress agent Agrogumat (0.4 l/ha). Its application on the fields of Lotus corniculatus in the stalking and budding phases was accompanied by an increase in this indicator by 37 and 51 units, or by 19.2—52.1 % compared with the control. The pre-sowing seed treatment of Lotus corniculatus of Ajax variety with the bacterial agent Rizobofit (strain of the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti) – 0.15 l per hectare seed rate positively influenced the development of nodule bacteria. This contributed to the formation of their greatest total number per plant: in the stalking phase – 174 pcs., the beginning of flowering – 241 pcs. Their mass in these phases was 311 and 1165 mg, respectively. Whereas in the control, without presowing seed treatment, these indicators were lower and amounted to 109, 209 and 120, 773 mg, respectively. The sowing properties of the seeds of Lotus corniculatus, in particular, the growth rate was the highest (56, 55 %) in the variants with foliar nutrition with the anti-stress agent Agrogumat, which was 7 % more compared to the control.

Purpose. To study the regularities of influence of fertilization system on alfalfa seed crops under the use of mineral, lime and various types of water-soluble fertilizers on a chelate basis in conditions of increased soil acidity in order to form maximum seed productivity. To establish the features of formation of the sowing properties of seeds, in particular, the germination energy, germination capacity, the number of hard seeds and the mass of 1000 seeds, their variability, and on this basis to develop ways to improve them. Methods. Measuring, visual, quantitative, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. As a result of scientific research, the possibilities of increasing the seed productivity of alfalfa in conditions of excessive acidity of gray forest soils of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine were discovered. It has been established that the introduction of lime, mineral and water-soluble fertilizers on a chelate basis in different phases of growth and development of alfalfa reduces the negative impact of the lack of basic nutrients for seed plants, especially calcium, and promotes increase in seed productivity by 124-236%, the weight of 1000 seeds – by 10-17%, germination – by 1-5%. Conclusions. Optimal conditions have been established for the formation of the Sinyukha variety alfalfa seeds yield on gray forest soils with increased soil acidity (pH 4.8-5.2) by liming alfalfa with a fastacting calcium fertilizer (Ca(OH)2 – slaked lime) – 0.5 norm up to hydrolytic acidity in combination with the use of mineral fertilizers (N30P90K90). The most effective is the use of “Raykat Start” growth and development regulator at the beginning of regrowth and “Raykat Grow” at the beginning of flowering alfalfa in a dose of 125 ml per 100 l/ha of water in combination with the introduction of water-soluble fertilizer Plantafol (1 kg/ha), boric ( 1 kg/ha) and molybdenum fertilizers (0.3 kg/ha) against the background of the main fertilization with mineral and lime fertilizers, which provided, on average, over the years of research, the formation of the highest seed yield – 235-264 kg/ha, 1000 seeds weight – 1.86 g, seed germination – 95%.