NATALI

The blue alfalfa variety Natali is a medium-maturing forage crop distinguished by high yield and nutritional value. The plants are medium-sized, reaching heights from 100 to 115 cm, with a semi-erect bush and medium foliage. Leaves exhibit a medium green coloration; the central leaflet is of medium length and width. Flowers are predominantly blue-purple, without admixture of creamy, white, or yellow shades. Racemes are cylindrical and ovoid in shape, measuring 2-3 cm in length; pods are brown and yellow with 2-3 twists. Stems are of medium length at full bloom, and after cutting, plant height varies from low to medium.

Variety Natali demonstrates high productivity: average green mass yield in the Central Black Earth region is 63.6 c/ha, which is 1.6 c/ha higher than the average standard, while maximum yield reached 123.3 c/ha in the third year of the sward's life. In the Lower Volga region, average dry matter yield is 57.7 c/ha, also exceeding standard indicators. Over five years of testing, the variety showed a 10% increase in green mass yield and a 41% increase in seed yield compared to the standard variety Uzen. Additionally, Natali outperforms Yeruslanka in the number of racemes per stem, seeds per pod, and pods per raceme.

Natali possesses good disease resistance; notably, mycoplasma infection over an average of three years was 1.5 times lower than in the Uzen variety. Fusarium infection is at the level of the standard variety. Thanks to its characteristics and high productivity, the Natali variety is a promising choice for forage use in various regions, ensuring stable and high-quality yields of green mass and seeds.