What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to evaluate biennial sweet clover samples for variety development suitable to the Middle Volga region.

February 2, 2026

Evaluation of biennial sweet clover samples in competitive variety testing and creation of a new variety in the conditions of the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga region

Key Points

The research aims to evaluate biennial sweet clover samples for variety development suitable to the Middle Volga region.
Conducted competitive variety trials on multiple samples from 2021 to 2023
Assessed green mass, dry matter, protein, and seed yield of sweet clover
Compared performance against standard yield metrics
Five samples outperformed the standard green mass yield by 13.0-22.5%
Three samples exceeded the standard for dry matter collection by 7.9-14.8%
Eight samples surpassed the digestible protein standard by 10.0-45.0%
Seven samples had seed yields exceeding the standard by 16.1-37.1%

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to evaluate samples of biennial sweet clover in a competitive variety trial and submit to the State Commission for Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops a new variety suitable for cultivation in the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga region, adapted to local agroclimatic conditions, high productivity of dry matter and seeds, with a reduced content of coumarin, resistant to major diseases. Experimental work was carried out in 2021-2023 on the experimental field of the Federal Research Center for Bast Fiber Crops – Separate division "Penza Research Institute of Agriculture". During the years of research, agroclimatic conditions were different, both during the growing season as a whole (HTC 0.8-1.0 – dry weather conditions), and by development phases. On average, over two plantings in the competitive variety testing of biennial sweet clover, the yield of green mass (32.1-34.8 t/ha) of 5 samples significantly exceeded the standard (28.4 t/ha) by 13.0-22.5%. In terms of dry matter collection (8.89-9.46 t/ha) 3 samples significantly exceeded the standard (8.24 t/ha) by 7.9-14.8%. In terms of the collection of digestible protein (0.66-0.87 t/ha) 8 samples significantly exceeded the standard indicators (0.60 t/ha) by 10.0-45.0%. In terms of seed yield (748-883 kg/ha) 7 samples significantly exceeded the standard (644 kg/ha) by 16.1-37.1%. Based on the test results, the most promising sample B-707 (hairy clover – Melilotus hirsutus Lipsky.) was transferred to the State Commission (application No. 89858/7653469 dated October 18, 2023) as a new variety – Yantar. The variety is winter-hardy, drought-resistant, resistant to downy mildew and powdery mildew, with a low coumarin content (0.35%). The Yantar variety exceeded the standard for green mass yield (34.8 t/ha) by 22.5%, dry matter collection (9.3 t/ha) – by 12.8%, seeds (876 kg/ha) – by 36.0%.

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