Bromus inermis is a perennial herbaceous grass, widely distributed in Bashkortostan and the surrounding regions. Several varieties are cultivated in the republic: smooth brome, Benekena, and coastal brome, each adapted to different soil and ecological conditions. The plant features upright stems 50-150 cm tall, thin flat leaves, and a spreading branched inflorescence. It blooms in June–July, and the grain matures by late July to early August.
Smooth brome is characterized by high drought and flooding tolerance due to its deep root system, reaching up to 2 meters. It recovers quickly after mowing, showing early spring regrowth at temperatures of 4-5 °C. Two ecotypes are used in the republic: meadow (northern) – moisture-loving and cold-hardy, and field (southern) – drought-tolerant. Both ecotypes withstand flooding for different durations: up to 50 days for the meadow type and up to 30 days for the field type.
The forage properties of smooth brome make it a valuable component of multi-year pastures, hayfields, and crops on drained bogs. The yield of green mass reaches 180 t/ha, hay – 60 t/ha, and seeds – 5 t/ha. 100 kg of hay contains about 57 feed units and 6 kg of digestible protein, while green mass contains approximately 29 feed units and 3 kg of protein. The crop can be grown for over a decade on the same land, allowing for multiple cuts per season.
Breeding work for varieties Bashkir Local, Chishminsky 3, Jubilee, and Yalan was conducted at the Bashkir Research Institute of Agriculture and other research centers. These varieties were granted approval for agricultural use in the Republic of Bashkortostan due to their high yield, nutritional value, and resilience to adverse climatic conditions.
