Red clover forage variety Anitra is a high-yielding perennial legume characterized by rapid early growth and uniform maturity. The vegetation period lasts 98-104 days, and the cutting period — 55-60 days. The variety is marked by high yields: over three years of variety trials, the average grain yield reached 34.1 centners/ha, and the forage mass — 450 centners/ha. Protein content in the grain varies from 35 to 38%, and in dry matter of green mass — 18-19%, making Anitra a valuable forage plant. Clover is resistant to pod cracking and possesses ecological plasticity, tolerating snow cover and enduring frosts down to minus 25-30 °C. Additionally, it is an excellent honey plant.
Plants reach an average height of 40-65 cm and belong to the group of bushy leguminous grasses. Anitra clover is not tolerant to flooding for more than 10-15 days, so it requires appropriate growing conditions. The forage value of green mass and hay is high due to protein content (15-16%), minerals, and vitamins, with green mass surpassing many other perennial and annual grasses in vitamin content. The hay yield is 30-40 centners/ha, and feed units per 100 kg of hay reach 52, confirming its significance in forage production.
Anitra clover cultivation is recommended to begin in spring, and nitrogen fertilization during early growth stages is beneficial for optimal development. Sowing is typically carried out under protective crops, such as winter or oat crops, to shield young plants from weeds that may suppress their growth in the first year. The optimal harvest period is during the bud stage to the beginning of flowering, when protein content is highest. Late harvesting reduces forage value and increases leaf loss, negatively affecting plant winter hardiness.
