Kirovohrads'kyi 83 – one of the recommended esparcet varieties for cultivation in the steppe zone of Ukraine. The variety was developed at the Kirovohrad State Agricultural Experimental Station and is characterized by high resistance to adverse conditions, good yield, and a balanced protein-to-sugar ratio, which reduces the risk of livestock diseases during grazing.
Esparcet green mass and hay possess high fodder qualities: the content of fodder units in 100 kg of green mass is 17.3 kg, and degradable protein is 2.8 kg. In dry matter, it contains up to 60 g of sugar per kilogram and up to 228 mg of vitamin C, which increases its nutritional value for animals. Esparcet hay has a high digestibility coefficient and, due to its balanced composition, does not cause bloat during grazing in rainy weather.
Three methods are used to sow Kirovohrads'kyi 83: early spring under cover of early grain crops, early spring without cover, and summer without cover. When sowing under barley cover, it is recommended to reduce the sowing rate of the cover crop by 15–20% and to harvest the barley in a timely manner. Summer sowing is carried out in the second half of June–July or no later than August 1–5, which ensures effective weed destruction and accumulation of moisture and nutrients. Optimal plant spacing is achieved by selecting inter-row width and sowing rate, and sowing is usually carried out using an SR-3/6 seeder followed by field rolling with chain-spiked rollers.
Thus, Kirovohrads'kyi 83 represents a high-quality perennial grass fodder capable of efficient cultivation in the arid steppe zone, providing livestock with a rich and easily digestible diet high in vitamin C and sugar. Its cultivation contributes to an increase in green mass and hay yield and improves resistance to adverse climatic conditions.
