Crested Wheatgrass KRASNOKUTSKY 45

Kraskokutsky 45 is a variety of narrow-awned oatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) developed at the Krasnokutskaya selection and experimental station of the Southern-Eastern Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture (NIISKh) in 1990. The variety is a polycross hybrid obtained by crossing Kamyshinsky 135 with a group of paternal forms: Krasnokutsky 305, Ural narrow-awned oatgrass, Aktiubinsky 89, and Krasnokutsky 4. As a result of breeding, a desert species with a shrub form of the bush and an intermediate head type was created, with a light green color and a spike length of 6-7 cm.

Botanical characteristics of the variety include the ratio of spike length to width of 6.7:1.1 cm. Spikelets are egg-shaped and contain from five to seven flowers in each spikelet. Seeds are long, about 0.5 cm, 0.1 cm wide, and elongated-lanceolate in shape. Biologically, Kraskokutsky 45 is characterized by a short growing period: from the beginning of spring regrowth to hay harvest – 50-55 days, and to full seed maturity – 100-105 days.

The variety has high resistance to drought, heat, and trampling by livestock. It demonstrates good suitability for grazing use due to its unpretentiousness to soils. Forage indicators include protein content in dry matter of hay at 10-12% and high feed palatability. Compared to standard varieties, Kraskokutsky 45 exceeds them by 16.1% in green mass yield, by 16.8% in hay yield, and by 27.1% in seed yield, making it a valuable choice for farmers seeking to increase productivity and forage production quality.