VNIIOK 1

VNIIOK 1 is a perennial variety of Galega officinalis, grown as a fodder crop for livestock. The plants reach heights of 70 to 125 cm and have an upright stem with a hollow covered in a matte-green coating. The leaves are large, odd-pinnate, measuring 15–30 cm in length, consisting of 9–15 oval leaflets. The root system is powerful and taprooted: roots penetrate to a depth of 50–80 cm, while offshoots grow horizontally sideways, forming new stems, which makes the plant an excellent cover crop.

The variety is characterized by high winter hardiness – it withstands frosts down to -5…-6 °C and is resistant to flooding for 10–15 days. Sowing in spring is done simultaneously with early spring crops; inter-row spacing is usually 45–60 cm, but 15 cm can be used on infested plots. In the first year, plants are not mowed, and in subsequent years they are mowed at the budding or flowering stage to obtain green fodder and silage. Protein content is 20…23 %, calcium is 1.5…1.8 % and fiber is 21…24 %. The mass of 1000 seeds is 5.5–6.5 g.

VNIIOK 1 has good palatability in fresh form and excellent silaging qualities. The variety is long-lived: it grows in one place for up to 8–15 years. Flowering forms a loose elongated raceme 20–25 cm in length, containing linear pods up to 4 cm long. Due to strong root rooting and the ability for vegetative propagation, the plant becomes denser year after year, which increases its productivity – average yield is 150–250 kg/ha.