Belotserkovskaya 623

Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) – an annual legume grown in the forest-steppe and polisia regions of Ukraine and neighboring countries. The «Belotserkovskaya 623» variety is characterized by a strong root system, a thin stem 100–120 cm long, and pinnate leaves with tendrils. The flowers have a red–violet tint, and the multi-seeded pod bursts easily. The seeds are dark, with a mass of 1000 seeds ranging from 50–75 g. The plant is cold-hardy: it germinates at temperatures of 2–3 °C and withstands frosts down to -5…-6 °C. It requires moisture, especially during flowering and fruit formation, and grows on neutral and slightly acidic soils.

The «Belotserkovskaya 623» variety is used as a fodder crop: green mass reaches 200–300 c/ha, hay – 40–60 c/ha. The sowing rate is 100–120 kg/ha (oats – 50–75 kg/ha). Planting is carried out in plowed or spring fields, with the best predecessors being corn, potatoes, and sugar beets. The crop is often grown in mixture with oats or Sudan grass. Harvest should be collected at full flowering for hay and green mass, and at the stage of bluish pods – for silage.

The variety is noted for increased resistance to various diseases. Vetch fusarium manifests in three forms, but «Belotserkovskaya 623» has high resistance. It also shows good tolerance to ascochytosis, powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, and other fungal diseases that reduce yield. In case of disease occurrence, traditional measures are recommended: selection of resistant varieties, crop rotation, seed treatment, and spraying with cineb or polycarbinox upon symptom manifestation.