Purpose. Optimization study of the spatial arrangement of the components in binary legume-cereal grass mixtures by selecting a complementary composition of the phytocenosis, the method of sowing perennial grasses to create hayfields with sand sainfoin in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe natural zone of Ukraine. Successful placement of legumes and cereals in two-component mixtures significantly eliminates the negative interaction at different stages of ontogenesis, reduces interspecific competition for environmental resources, balances the structure of the phytocenosis, increases its productivity and prolongs the productive life of the sown hayfields. Methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, comparative calculation methods. Results. The field experiment investigated the influence of the spatial arrangement of sand sainfoin under various methods of sowing with medium wheatgrass, team wheatgrass, ryegrass and high ryegrass on the yield of dry matter, feed units, crude protein, metabolic energy and providing the feed unit with digestible protein. It is established that in comparison with the traditional row mixed method of sowing binary mixtures of sand sainfoin with different types of cereals the highest yield of dry matter, feed units, crude protein, metabolic energy (on average for three years) was obtained by cross and cross-row methods. The highest yield of crude protein and the supply of feed unit with digestible protein was obtained by cross-sowing method. Conclusions. The influence of spatial arrangement of sandy sainfoin and cereal grasses on the formation of phytocenosis and its forage productivity is substantiated. The prospects of cross and cross-row sowing methods of binary sainfoin-cereal grass mixtures are proved. This arrangement of legumes and cereals reduces interspecific competition for environmental resources, balances the structure of the phytocenosis, increases its productivity and the quality of the grass mass and prolongs the productive life of the sown hayfields.

Purpose. To establish quality indicators of grass mass of the Sinyukha alfalfa variety, Constantine sainfoin variety, Sparta meadow clover by phases of growth and development of plants aimed at production of high-protein feeds. Methods. System, analysis, field, laboratory. Results. One of the important indicators that determines the quality of the green mass yield is the ratio of the mass of leaves and stems. This ratio largely determines the digestibility of feed. It was found that the foliage of legumes and the ratio of leaf mass and stems decreases from the branching to the flowering phase, which significantly affects some indicators of the biochemical composition of the mown green mass. When harvesting grasses in the early phase of branching, or in the late one of flowering of plants in the first mowing, the content of crude protein decreased from 21.0-26.3% to 14.0-17.2%, crude fat − from 3.4- 3.9% to 1.3-2.8% and crude fiber content increased from 17.5-18.0% to 25.3-27.8%, the proportion of leaf mass decreased from 46.2-48.5% to 22.3-29.9%, and stems, on the contrary, increased from 51.5-53.8% to 70.1-77.7% depending on the type of legume. Changes in the ratio of leaves and stems in the green mass during the growth and development phases of alfalfa, sainfoin and meadow clover also affected the nutritional value of fodder from these grasses. The supply of digestible protein of the feed unit decreased from 148.9-186.9 g in the branching phase to 78.5-100.2 g in the flowering phase of plants, and the content of feed units in each kilogram of dry matter of feed decreased from 0.90-0.93 to 0.57-0.66, respectively. It was found that concentration of metabolic energy in the dry matter of legumes harvested in the branching phase was 10.3-10.9 MJ/kg, and mowing them in the flowering phase led to a decrease of this indicator to 7.5-7.9 MJ/kg. Conclusions. It was found that the most high-protein and energetically nutritious food can be obtained when mowing the grass in the earlier growing season, which corresponds to the branching-budding phases. Later there observed a significant deterioration in feed quality, which is associated with a decrease in crude protein and metabolic energy and increase in crude fiber content in the dry matter of perennial legumes.

Purpose. To investigate optimization of the spatial distribution of the component in binary legume-cereal grass mixtures by selecting a complementary composition of the phytocenosis, method of planting perennial grasses to create hay grass stands with Onobrychis arenaria in the right-bank Forest-Steppe. Adequate selection of legume and cereal species in a double-component sowing significantly reduces negative interactions at different stages of ontogenesis, reduces interspecific competition for environmental resources, balances the structure of phytocenosis, increases its productivity and prolongs the productive longevity of sown hayfields. Methods. System analysis, field, seeded haymaking, laboratory, comparative. Results. In the field experiment of the Department of Field Fodder Crops, Hayfields and Pastures, the influence of the spatial distribution of Onobrychis arenaria under various methods of sowing with Bromus inermis, Bromus riparius, Festuca arundinacea and Phleum pratense on the yield of dry matter, feed units, metabolic energy, and supply of fodder protein with digestible grass protein of the grass mass (phytomass) of double-component sainfoin-cereal grass mixtures of hay use is studied. It is established that, compared with the conventional mixed method of sowing sainfoin with different types of cereal components, on average for three years of using grass stands, the highest yield of dry matter, feed units, and metabolic energy was obtained under cross and cross-row sowing methods. Conclusions. The influence of the spatial distribution of Onobrychis arenaria and cereal grasses on the formation of grass stands and the productivity of grass mass is substantiated. The prospects of cross and cross-row methods of sowing binary sainfoin-cereal grass mixtures are outlined. This placement of legume and cereal components contributed to a decrease in interspecific competition for environmental resources, balancing the structure of the phytocenosis, increasing its productivity and the quality of grass mass and prolonging the productive longevity of the seeded hayfield in conditions of the right-bank Forest-Steppe.

Goal. To establish the level of productive potential and economic efficiency of growing restored meadow grasslands on sloping lands with organic production of fodder raw materials. Methods. Field and laboratory research in feed production, hypotheses, dialectical, synthesis and analysis, induction, statistical. Results. Scientific and technological bases of growing perennial grasses on sloping lands with organic fodder production have been formed, which envisage introduction of a set of measures not only for production of ecologically safe fodder for animals with maximum use of biological intensification factors, but also preservation of environment, including soils and biodiversity. Using the index of coenotic activity of each species in mixed agrophytocenoses, a strategy for the development of perennial grasses depending on the level of influencing factors (method of creation, fertilizer system and mode of use) was established. Dominant (Onobrychs arenaria, Medicago sativa, Festuca arundinacea) and patient (Lotus corniculatus, Bromus inermis, Bromus riparius) species are identified for the artificial multicomponent agrophytocenosis. It is established that for organic meadow cultivation on sloping lands, preference should be given to perennial legumes, which without additional energy resources provide output from the forage area of bulky feed with a dry matter yield in the range of 13.7-15.1 t/ha with crude protein content of 19.8-20.3%, metabolic energy 9.4-9.7 MJ/kg, and demonstrate a break-even level in the second year of use. Conclusions. During the research the technology has been developed for restoration of the Forest-Steppe degraded meadow lands for organic fodder production, which will provide a 45.2-58.2 t/ha grass fodder yield of green mass, 12.8-14.3 t/ha dr matter with 17.8-18.3% crude protein content, 9.1-9.2 MJ/kg metabolic energy with energy coefficient indicators at the level of 3.40-5.15, 1.78-2.62 energy efficiency coefficients (Kee). The cost recovery is UAH 1.73-1.85, and the level of profitability is 98-112%. The development allows 2-3 times increase in productivity of degraded grasslands.

Purpose. To establish the qualitative indicators of the grass mass of the Danae variety of Trifolium repens L. and the Ajax variety of Lotus corniculatus L. in accordance with the growth and development phases of plants in order to produce high-protein feed. Methods. Field, laboratory, system analysis methods were used. Results. According to our data, the leafiness of leguminous plants and the ratio of leaf mass and stems decrease from the branching phase to the flowering phase, what significantly affects individual indicators of the biochemical composition of the green mass of the first and second mowings. According to the development phases of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. plants in the grass mass of both the first and second mowings, a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat and increase in the content of crude fiber was observed, which was due to a decrease in the leaf mass of plants and an increase in the stem mass. The ratio of the mass of leaves and stems according to the phases of plant development of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. also influenced the nutritional value of the grass mass forage. The content of fodder units from the branching phase to flowering decreased from 0.94-0.90 to 0.55-0.61 f.u., exchange energy – from 10.25- 10.27 to 7.31-7.86 MJ respectively. Conclusions. Significant changes in plant foliage covering and the percentage ratio of the mass of leaves and stems, their influence on indicators of the biochemical composition, quality and energy nutritional value of the grass mass of Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L. have been proved. Changes in the composition of the grass mass were accompanied by a decrease in the content of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and increase in crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractive substances, which led to a decrease in the quality of forage for the leafy mass of leguminous grasses. It has been established that the most high-protein and energetically nutritious forage for the grass mass of leguminous grasses (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) can be obtained by mowing the grass stand in the branching-budding phase. Subsequently, there is a significant decrease in the content of crude and digestible protein, metabolic energy and increase in the content of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extractives.