Influence of plant protection methods on weediness and seed yield of meadow clover varieties in Primorskiy region

Abstract

In the field of fodder production, in most cases, low-yielding, old-age grass stands are used. One of the reasons for this is the low availability of grass seeds. For example, over the past 20 years, the production of grass-clover seeds has reduced by 3.4 times. Therefore, priority should be given to the seed production of leguminous grasses (including meadow clover). A large infestation of the arable soil layer with seeds and buds of annual and perennial weeds in almost all arable land in the Primorskiy Region is the most critical factor in reducing the yield of cultivated crops. The development of practical techniques for clearing fields of weeds is one of the vital links in the technology of increasing the output of fodder crops. The research aims to establish the effect of agronomic practices of cultivation and means of protection on the seed yield of meadow clover in the natural and climatic conditions of the Primorskiy Region. Clover is a crop sensitive to herbicides, with a limited period of their application. Therefore, inter-row treatments were carried out before the rows were closed, and chemical treatments were applied before the budding phase to preserve wild pollinators and bees. The varieties Ogonek, SibNIIK-10 and regionalised Kommandor were evaluated. Experimental data on the impact of agronomic practices of meadow clover cultivation and plant protection methods on the weediness of its crops and the yield quality of seeds under the conditions of the Primorskiy region were obtained. The use of herbicides against the background of inter-row treatment during the second year of clover planting helped reduce the weed infestation from 58.3 to 70% and increase the seed yield by 1.1-1.3 times depending on the variety.