Sainfoin PINK 89

The "Pink 89" esparcet variety is a perennial herbaceous crop developed in the selection laboratory of the Southern-Eastern Institute of Agriculture (NIISKh) using free pollination of wild Siberian esparcet (K-29964). It belongs to the West-Siberian ecological group of sand esparcet Onobrychis arenaria. The bush is almost erect, 60–120 cm high, with 6–8 stems per plant and moderate branching. Stems are hollow, thin, tender, and young ones are sparsely hairy; leaves are lanceolate, green, soft, without waxy coating, and densely foliated – 54–56%. Typically, there are seven internodes between nodes. Flowers form a dense raceme 10–12 cm long, pink in color, while seeds are bean-shaped, brownish-yellow-green, with a hard content of 5–7%. The mass of 1000 seeds is 21.1–22.8 g.

"Pink 89" is distinguished by good winter hardiness and drought resistance. Cutting maturity is reached 41–42 days after the start of spring vegetation, while full seed maturation takes from 72 to 78 days. Thanks to stable seed production and high dry matter yield (in the North Caucasus region – up to 164 c/ha), this variety is successfully grown in all cultivation zones, including the Urals, Lower Volga, and North Caucasus regions.

The variety is an excellent honey plant and ensures high-quality feed. It is also widely used as a cover crop, contributing to soil structure improvement and increased fertility. Due to its resistance to diseases and pests (weak reaction to rust), "Pink 89" is a reliable choice for farmers seeking stable and profitable productivity.