Vesta

Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) is a perennial rhizomatous grass growing from 60 to 150 cm tall, widely used as a fodder crop for horses and pastures. The plant has a deep root system penetrating the soil up to 2 m or more, which provides high drought resistance and flood tolerance (constant humidity of up to 30–45 days). Thanks to its dense leaf mass and rich protein content (about 6 kg of digestible protein per 100 kg of hay), smooth brome is a valuable feed containing significant amounts of microelements and vitamins.

The crop grows easily on various soils: from loamy chernozems to light sandy and carbonate soils, with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction being preferable. Sowing can be done in spring (April–June) or autumn (September–October) along with winter crops. The seeding rate is 25–30 kg/ha for pure sowing, and 10–15 kg/ha when mixed with legumes or cereals.

Smooth brome provides two full cuts per season and can be used as a pasture for up to 8–10 years, after which it maintains high productivity in subsequent cycles. The yield of green mass reaches 300–400 c/ha, hay – 70–80 c/ha, seeds – 7–10 c/ha. Due to its resistance to trampling and soil erosion, the plant is suitable for stabilizing slopes and drained swamps, as well as in mixtures with alfalfa, timothy or other cereal and legume crops.