Alfalfa SARGA

The Sarga lucerne variety is a mid-maturing diploid hybrid developed by creating complex hybrid populations based on three self-fertile lines. The plants have a height of 70 to 120 cm, a semi-upright bush type with dark green leaves and inflorescence panicles. The stems are herbaceous, highly branched, green in color, sometimes with anthocyanin in the lower part. The seeds are pale yellow, bean-shaped and curved. The variety is characterized by an early maturity period, approximately 8 days earlier compared to the Krasnoufimskaya 6 variety, and good winter hardiness. Sarga differs in high dry matter yield, which varies from 6.5 to 14.2 tons per hectare depending on growing conditions, including dryland and irrigated areas. Seed yield reaches 1.04 tons per hectare. During the growing season, up to 3-4 cuttings are possible. In the above-ground mass at the beginning of flowering, there is 19-21% crude protein, which differs in a full amino acid composition and high digestibility, exceeding 78%. The protein content in dry matter is about 18.86%, and protein harvest reaches 21.7 centners per hectare. The variety is resistant to main diseases, including root rots and brown spot, as well as pests and lodging. It has good drought resistance and is adapted to slightly acidic soils with a pH level below 5.5, which allows its use after grain crops. The recommended sowing rate is 1.5–2.0 million seeds per hectare, and the optimal sowing time is early spring without a cover crop. Thanks to its agronomic and biological characteristics, the Sarga variety is widely cultivated in various regions of Russia, demonstrating stable productivity and quality indicators.