MELILOTUS 6 – a late-maturing variety of melilotus (Melilotus) developed jointly by the Siberian Institute of Animal Husbandry and the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Protection, and included in the State Register in 1989. The plant is characterized by an erect form, height of 170–210 cm, and bushiness of 5–8 stems per plant, ensuring a dense and stable sowing structure.
The variety boasts high productivity: the average dry matter yield is about 14.8 t/ha, and seed yield is 0.46 t/ha. Seeds are oval, yellow or yellowish-green, 4–6 mm long, with a pointed tip and a reticulate surface; 1000 seeds weigh 1.8–2.1 g. Bushes do not shed until 10 days after maturity, which facilitates harvesting and increases yield.
MELILOTUS 6 is widely used in farm and field crop rotation systems as green feed, silage, hay meal, and cover crop. Due to high winter hardiness, drought resistance, and resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew, the variety is suitable for cultivation in various climatic conditions. Moreover, melilotus is known as an excellent honey plant, and its leaves and flowers possess expectorant, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties, making the plant valuable not only in agriculture but also in folk medicine.
