Peculiarities of growth and development of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) in Belarus | Особенности роста и развития пажитника греческого (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) в Беларуси

In course of the research there were studied peculiarities of growth and development of different varieties of a fodder crop fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), which was new for the conditions of Belarus. The study was realized on a pilot site of the department of fodder production of the Belarusian Agricultural Academy in 2006-2009 on sod-podzolic light loamy soil. Agrochemical parameters of topsoil 0-22 cm were the following: pH - in salt extract KCI - 6.0; hydrolytic acidity - 0.88 C-mole on 100 g of soil, the degree of base saturation - 95%, humus content - 1.5%, mobile forms of P2O5 - 173 mg on 1 kg of soil. To study the characteristics of growth, development and productivity were used the following varieties: 1. Ovari-4 (control); 2. Ovari Gold; 3. H-26; 4. Chiadonha; 5. Gharkamon. The differences in field germination rate, survivability of plants and duration of crop vegetation phases were shown. Comparative productivity of five varieties with different geographic origins, cultivated for green mass and seeds was estimated. As the result of the realized research it was revealed that all studied varieties had high germination (90.6-96%) and high persistence of plants at harvest for green mass (89.9-96.6) and seeds (86.3-95.2%). Differences in the timing of phenological phases and the total duration of the vegetation period of culture depend on meteorological conditions and varietal characteristics. In order to achieve full ripeness of seed plants need an average of 90 to 108 days, including variety Ovari 4 - 91-99 days (in average 95 days), Chiadonha - 88-92 days (in average 90 days), H-26 - 94 - 102 days (in average 98 days), Ovari Gold - 93-103 days (in average 98 days), Gharkamon - 102-113 days (in average 108 days). The most fast-growing variety is the variety Chiadonha, with the average growing season of 90 days. The studied varieties of fenugreek in Belarus showed a high yield of green mass and seeds.