Lucerne — a perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family, widely used as a forage crop due to its high nutritional value and yield. It is valued for its richness in protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it indispensable in feeding livestock. With proper agronomic practices, lucerne can produce high yields of green mass and hay, reaching 400-700 centners of green mass and 50-150 centners of hay per hectare. The plant grows quickly, allowing for 3-4 cuttings during the growing season with intervals of 35-40 days between cuttings. Lucerne prefers fertile, well-drained soils and does not tolerate waterlogging. Sowing is done with seeders in early spring at a rate of 18-25 kg per hectare. A key aspect of cultivation is soil preparation, timely fertilization, as well as protection against diseases and weeds, which contribute to obtaining stable and high yields. Additionally, lucerne is a honey plant and contributes to enriching soil with nitrogen, improving its structure and fertility, which positively affects subsequent crops. Special attention is given to selection technologies aimed at developing lucerne varieties capable of functioning and productively growing under conditions of increased soil acidity. This allows expanding the cultivation area of the crop and enhancing its resistance to adverse edaphic conditions. In Ukraine, there are superior lucerne varieties adapted to various climatic and soil conditions, ensuring high yields and stable production.
