Znahidka

The «Znahidka» variety belongs to medium-maturing vetch species developed by the Krasnohrad Research Station of the State Institution «Krasnohrad Research Station» of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. It is intended for fodder purposes and is primarily grown in Polissya. Plants reach a height of 90–130 cm, have a bushy form with 2–4 branches. Stems are green with a purple tint, average leaf density is 18–25 nodes, and up to the first fruiting node – 12.

Key characteristics: small black-purple variegated flowers are located in groups of 2–3 on each fruiting node. The vegetation period includes two cuts; the first begins 60–70 days after the start of growth. The seed pod is oval, gray-brown, and light-ribbed; 1000 seeds weigh 51–60 g. Pods are of the shattering type, linear, slightly curved; they turn light-brown with a purple tint at maturity. Each plant has 9 to 24 pods, each pod contains 6–8 seeds. Stability to shattering is above average.

Resistance: to wind damage – 5 points, to shattering – 8 points, to drought – 5 points, to major diseases – 7 points. Yield is 4.3 t/ha of green mass, 5.7 t/ha of hay, and 3.3 t/ha of seeds.

The variety was registered in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine since 2004 and is available for cultivation under different numbers: Superelita, Elita, I reproduction. At DG «Dnipro», only the Elita version is offered, while Krasnohrad offers only Superelita.