Ladvenets IRZHA (Lotus corniculatus L.) – a perennial plant growing 10 to 40 cm tall, characterized by drought and low-temperature resistance, as well as the ability to improve soil structure. Its stem is prostrate or slightly ascending, the root is taproot, leaves are petiolate and trifoliate, inflorescences are umbellate with five-flowered yellow flowers up to 15 mm long. Pods are straight, cylindrical, dark brown, reaching 25 mm in length. The plant is self-pollinating but actively visited by insects, making it a good source of nectar for bees.
Ladvenets IRZHA is widely used as a cover crop and nectar source. When sown in spring or autumn, seeds should be prepared for loosening the soil, sown at a depth of 1–2 cm, and distributed at a rate of 10–15 g/m² (or up to 15 kg/ha). The first seedlings appear within 7–10 days. After 6–8 weeks, the plant can be mown as green fertilizer and also used as feed material due to its high protein and vitamin C content. Due to symbiosis with soil bacteria, ladvenets fixes nitrogen, increasing soil fertility.
In gardening, ladvenets IRZHA is suitable for arid and rocky areas where other meadow crops may grow poorly. It tolerates heavy and light soils, as well as low temperatures down to –25 °C. Flowering lasts from 45 to 62 days, starting from late spring and ending in late autumn, with the first year of cultivation seeing the first flowering, while in subsequent years it becomes more intense and recurrent (usually 2–3 times per season). Ladvenets is also valued as a source of antispasmodic and wound-healing remedies – infusions and decoctions from the plant are used to relieve pain and accelerate wound healing. Due to its versatility, durability, and eco-friendliness, ladvenets IRZHA is an excellent choice for agronomists and gardeners seeking to improve soil, provide pasture feed, and harvest nectar.
