The "Sputnik" pea variety is a wintering fodder variety with brown non-shattering seeds, intended for growing green mass and grain in animal husbandry. The plants are characterized by a tall green stem ranging from 130 to 180 cm in height, with 2-4 shoots and 17-23 internodes. The flowers are red-purple, two per peduncle, and the shelling-type pods contain 3 to 7 seeds. The seeds are small, angular-round, gray-green in color with dark spots and a slight blush, the cotyledons are yellow, and the hilum is light gray. During storage, the seeds acquire a brownish hue.
The variety is mid-season, with a vegetative period ranging from 220 to 247 days, which allows for high green mass yields as early as May. The potential green mass yield reaches 35-40 tons per hectare, while grain yield ranges from 4.0 to 5.2 tons per hectare. Protein content in the grain ranges from 24.3% to 24.8%, making the variety particularly valuable for fodder purposes. The variety has enhanced resistance to diseases and is weakly damaged by grain borers, contributing to yield stability.
"Sputnik" is recommended for cultivation in various regions, including Krasnodar Krai and the North Caucasus region. Thanks to its winter hardiness, comparable to the "Uzbek 71" variety, and high productivity, this pea variety is a reliable choice for obtaining quality green mass and grain used in animal husbandry.
