Sweetclover ZAVOLZHSKIY

ZAVOLZHSKIY is a variety of white sweetclover (Melilotus albus Medik.), grown in various regions of Russia, including the Volga Region and the Chernozem region. The plant is characterized by an average height of 140–180 cm, weak bushiness, and erect stems without pubescence. The leaves are trifoliate, dark green, without a waxy bloom, and the inflorescences have a racemose form.

The variety is distinguished by good drought resistance and the ability to grow on light sandy, chernozem, calcareous, and saline soils. The vegetation period is 100–120 days; flowering and fruiting occur in June–September. White sweetclover of the Volga Region is an excellent nectar plant and is widely used for grazing animals, as well as as raw material for the production of silage, silage, and dehydrated feeds.

Green mass yield ranges from 25 to 37 tons per hectare, while dry matter yield reaches 7.1 t/ha. Crude protein content at the flowering stage is from 16.7% to 18.1%. The seeds of the variety have a yellow color, oval shape, and a length of about 2.5 mm; their weight of 1000 pods is approximately 3 grams, and seed hardness is in the range of 4–5%. Due to the high nutritional properties, white sweetclover of the Volga Region ensures high-quality silage when mixed with cereals and is a valuable source of minerals for animals.