The purpose of the study was to estimate such adaptability parameters, as a linear regression coefficient, stress resistance, genetic flexibility and stability coefficient, according to the traits “green mass productivity” and “dry matter productivity”. The objects of the study were 6 sainfoin varieties developed by the ARC “Donskoy”. The variety ‘Zernogradsky 2’ was taken as the standard one. Sowing was carried out in the spring with the SSFC-7 seeder in its pure form, without a cover crop. A seeding rate was 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The area of the plot was 20 m2, with fourfold repetition. The estimation according to the indicators of ecological adaptability was performed according to the S. A. Eberchart and W. A. Russel (1966) as presented by V. A. Zykina et al. (2011), calculation of stress resistance and genetic flexibility was established according to A.A. Goncharenko (2005). The results of the analysis of variance have shown a significant influence of factor B (conditions) both on the variability of productivity of green mass (79.12 %) and dry matter (75.38 %). All the studied sainfoin varieties according to the years and sowing significantly exceeded the indicators of the standard variety. The most productive of them, the new variety ‘Atamansky 20’, formed on average 30.9 t/ha of green mass and 8.3 t/ha of dry mass, with fluctuations over the years, respectively, 24.8–44.9 t/ha and 6.4 –12.1 t/ha. The sainfoin varieties differ in the response of green and dry mass productivity to changing environmental conditions. The varieties ‘Zernogradsky 2’, ‘Atamansky’ and ‘Atamansky 20’ demand to improve conditions when cultivated for green feed and hay (bi > 1), while the varieties ‘Veles’, ‘Sudar’ and ‘Shuravi’ respond less well to improved environmental conditions and are more adaptable (bi < 1). The varieties ‘Veles’, ‘Sudar’ and ‘Shuravi’ are highly resistant to stress, while the varieties Zernogradsky 2’, ‘Atamansky’ and ‘Atamansky 20’ have a narrower range of adaptive capabilities of stress resistance. A higher correspondence between a genotype and environmental factors and high genetic flexibility were found in the variety ‘Atamansky 20’.

The current paper has presented the estimation results of productivity, feed quality and bioenergetic efficiency of cultivation of the sainfoin varieties and promising lines. The study was carried out at the FSBSI «ARC «Donskoy» in 2019–2022. The objects of the study were 5 sainfoin varieties included in the State List and approved for use in different regions of Russia, one variety, which is currently on the State Variety Testing, and three promising lines. The standard variety was ‘Zernogradsky 2’. For 4 years the sainfoin varieties, included in the List, exceeded the standard variety on 8.3–17.4 % of green mass yield, on 5.4–10.8 % of dry matter, on 6.8–13.9 % of seeds. The variety ‘Atamansky 20’ and promising lines exceeded the standard on 17.8–23.4 %, 23.0–29.7 % and 16.7–31.0 %, respec tively. The sainfoin varieties and lines significantly exceeded the standard variety in their nutritional value. These indicators were the highest in the line ‘Sin 3/2004’ and amounted to 5.610 thousand/ha f.u., 1.59 t/ha of crude and 990 kg/ha of digestible protein. The varieties ‘Atamansky’, ‘Veles’, ‘Sudar’ and ‘Shuravi’ accumulated energy on 8.5–16.5 % more than the standard variety with green mass productivity, net energy income exceeded that of the standard variety on 9.1–17.7 %. The promising lines produced on 21.2–23.6 % more energy with vegetative mass harvesting than the standard variety. The coefficients of energy efficiency of the varieties and promising lines were 3.4–3.6. With seed yields, sainfoin varieties and promising lines accumulated energy on 6.5–31.1 % more than the standard variety. At the same time, net energy income was higher on 16.3–83.5 %, and the CEE was 1.7–2.2.

Sainfoin – fodder crop capable of growing in unfavorable conditions and on soils with reduced fertility. But sainfoin is not widespread and does not occupy large cultivated areas. One of the reasons for this is the small number of sainfoin varieties adapted to various environmental conditions. The purpose of the research is to identify the sources of valuable economic and biological traits in the collection nursery of sainfoin for use as a source material. The sainfoin collection nursery was established in 2017 according to the methodology of N.I. Vavilov. The area of the plots is 1 m2, the replication is two times. Standard – sainfoin variety Zernogradskiy 2. According to the results, samples with useful traits were identified: samples Sin 149, Sin 151 and Sin 8.15 with early growth (28.03) had the shortest growing season (52 days); by plant height, specimens Sin 38 (122 cm) and Sin 208.15 (122 cm) were distinguished; the highest yield of green mass was noted for samples Sin 26, Sin 126, Sin 141, Sin 102.15, Sin 103.15, Sin 1.15, Sin 2.15 with indicators of 7.67-9.72 kg/m2; a dry matter content of over 28% was noted in samples Sin 37, Sin 46, Sin 42, Sin 105.15, Sin 205.15; samples Sin 31, Sin 42, Sin 54, Sin 122, Sin 135, Sin 144, Sin 145, Sin 160, Sin 100.15, Sin 1.15, Sin 3.15, Sin 4.15, Sin 6.15, Sin 8.15, Sin 100/1142 were distinguished by a high content crude protein (20.00-21.44%).

Изложены результаты изучения нового сорта люцерны изменчивой Голубка, приведено его морфо-биологическое описание. Сегодня сорт-это главный источник для производства энергии насыщенных кормов, носитель определенных хозяйственно-ценных признаков. Для каждого региона необходимо иметь сорта, способные реализовать почвенно-климатические условия зоны, обладающие устойчивостью к различным проявлениям в ней стресс-факторов. Учитывая это и разнообразие почвенноклиматических условий Ростовской области, работа направлена на создание сортов, способных наиболее эффективно использовать биоклиматические ресурсы региона. Основное направление селекции лаборатории многолетних трав-создание сортов сенокосного и пастбищного использования с урожайностью кормовой массы, семенной продуктивностью, устойчивостью к основным болезням и неблагоприятным факторам среды. Исследования проводили методом создания сложногибридных популяций на основе биотипов, полученных многократным отбором по кормовой и семенной продуктивности. Люцерна изменчивая Голубка обеспечивала урожайность зеленой массы 31,0, сбор сухого вещества-9,3 и урожайность семян-0,22 т/га. По урожайности зеленой массы сорт Голубка превышал стандартный сорт Ростовская 90 на 7,6%, по сбору сухого вещества-на 6,9%, по урожайности семян-на 11%. В зеленой массе содержалось 21,0-21,8% сырого протеина и 30-32% клетчатки. Новый сорт люцерны Голубка выделялся большим (на 7,6%) сбором кормовых единиц и сырого протеина (9,0%) с 1 га. В 1 кг сухого вещества сорта Голубка, хотя и незначительно, но выше, чем у стандарта, было содержание обменной энергии (10,4 МДж/кг) и переваримого протеина (153 г/кг), а также кормовая единица была лучше обеспечена переваримым протеином (187 г/к. е.).

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the economic and biological characteristics and properties of a new, highly productive sainfoin variety resistant to various stressful conditions. The study was carried out as part of the Зерновое хозяйство России № 1(79)’ 2022 47 competitive variety testing of the laboratory for breeding and seed production of perennial grass of the “ARC “Donskoy” in 2018–2021. The experimental sowing for the competitive variety testing was done in spring, with a seeding rate of 4 million germinated seeds per ha. The area of plots was 25 m2 , 4–6 times of repetition. There has been identified the new sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’, an artificial synthetic population obtained by the methods of individual family selection and poly-crossing of the varieties ‘Atamansky’, ‘Zernogradsky 2’ and ‘Veles’. The variety belongs to the sandy species. The sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ during the years of competitive variety testing significantly exceeded the standard variety ‘Zernogradsky 2’. The green mass productivity of the variety ‘Atamansky 20’ was higher than that of the standard variety on 4.5 t/ha, dry matter on 1.4 t/ha, seeds on 0.14 t/ha, or on 17.1%, 20.6% and 21.2%, respectively. According to raw and digestible protein percentage per hectare, the sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ exceeded the standard one on 20.1% and 25.7%, respectively; gross energy yield on 12.3%. When using the sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ as a green manure crop there can be used an average of 297 kg/ha N, 65 kg/ha P2 O5 , 159 kg/ha K2 O, which is respectively on 32%, 27% and 30% more than used when the green mass of ‘Zernogradsky 2’ is applied into the soil.

The main parameter of the breeding work with alfalfa in the ARC “Donskoy” is the improvement of fodder and seed productivity. Through the years the breeding work was carried out with 500–860 collection samples of alfalfa, alfalfa hybrids and alfalfa lines of the local origin. The main method of the breeding work was poly-crossing. It’s characterized with a multiple repetition of selections of the best plants from the populations, their self-pollination and crossing by free pollination in the plots of poly-crossing. It resulted in accumulation and concentration of favourable traits in the population. The selection promoted systematic improvement of synthetic populations according to economic-valuable traits, especially fodder and seed productivity. During the research, productivity of green mass of the standard variety ‘Rostovskaya 90’ was 28.2 t/ha in the first cutting and 19.0 t/ha in the second one on average. The varieties ‘Lyutsiya’ and ‘Selaynka’ produced 30.6 t/ha, 19.8 t/ha and 32.1 t/ha, 20.4 t/ha respectively. The sum of the harvested green mass of the standard variety was 47.2 t/ha, while ‘Lyutsiya’ produced 50.5 t/ha and ‘Selaynka’ 53.1 t/ha, that is on 7.0% and 12.5% larger than the standard. The similar result was obtained in productivity of dry matter. The total quantity of dry matter produced by the standard variety was 11.6 t/ha (two cuttings), the varieties ‘Lyutsiya’ and ‘Selaynka’ gave 12.6 t/ha and 12.8 t/ha that is on 8.6% and 10.3% more than the standard. The estimation of the breeding work with alfalfa in the preliminary and competitive variety testing allowed to identify the new alfalfa variety ‘Golubka’ and to send it to the State Variety Testing. In the competitive variety testing (2012–2016) the variety produced larger yields that the standard variety (productivity of all five 1-st cutting). With its average productivity of green mass (31.9 t/ha) it exceeded the standard on 13.1%. In the 2-d cutting its green mass productivity was 20.9 t/ha that is on 10.9% more that the standard.  With the average productivity of green mass the variety ‘Golubka’ produced 8.0 t/ha in the 1-st cutting and 4.9 t/ha in the 2-d, that is on 12.7% and 8.9% lager that that of the standard.  The variety ‘Golubka’ produced 52.8 t/ha green mass for two cuttings and 12.8 t/ha dry matter that is on 11.9% and 10.3% larger than the standard variety ‘Rostovskaya 90’. Seed productivity of the standard variety was 0.23 t/ha on average, the varieties ‘Lyutsiya’ and ‘Selaynka’ gave 0.25 t/ha, the new variety ‘Golubka’ produced 0.29 t/ha, that is on 8.7 and on 26.1% more than the standard.

The current paper has presented the estimation results of ecological adaptability of the alfalfa samples. The purpose of the work was to assess the productivity and quality of green mass of the alfalfa samples from the IPI plant genetic resources gene bank and to identify the most adaptive ones according to the trait ‘green mass productivity’ and ‘raw protein percentage’. The study of the collection alfalfa samples was carried out in the southern part of the Rostov region on the plots of the “ARC “Donskoy” in the breeding crop rotation of perennial grasses in 2016–2018. The objects of study were 30 alfalfa samples from the collection of N.I. Vavilov IPI from different countries (Canada, the USA, Peru, France). The variety ‘Rostovskaya 90’ was used as a standard one. The estimation of alfalfa samples on the presence of adaptive properties in them according to the trait ‘green mass productivity’ showed that the most valuable samples in present practical breeding work are the samples ‘K-32873’, ‘K-33299’, ‘K-42684’, ‘K-42249’, ‘K-78803’ with weak responsiveness to changes in environmental conditions; the samples ‘K-36104’, ‘K-48778’, ‘K-42694’, ‘K-45715’, ‘K-47800’, ‘K-47802’, ‘K-43260’ with high resistance to stress; the samples ‘K-43272’, ‘K-50545’, ‘K-47806’, ‘K-47807’ with genetically flexible genotypes. When breeding according to the trait ‘raw protein percentage’, the samples ‘K-47807’, ‘K-47804’, ‘K-42712’ possessing a high raw protein percentage and resistance to changes in this trait are important for further work.

In the article we proposed a technological solution aimed at solving the current problems of poultry enterprises and specifically at the disposal of litter. The technology of processing litter into fertilizer was analyzed. It is proposed to combine the processes of sorption drying, high-temperature extrusion and vacuum drying in the production of the dry granulated fertilizer from litter. Studies of the sorption capacity of dried litter have shown that its moisture and granulometric properties do not affect the pattern of moisture transfer between the litter and the sorbent material.