Productivity of a promising forage species Poterium polygamum Waldst. & Kit. in the conditions of North Ossetia-Alania

Abstract

Abstract The article presents the results of a long-term study of Poterium polygamum Waldst. & Kit. when introduced into culture in the collection nursery of plants of the Research Institute of Biotechnology in the Botanical Garden of the Gorsk State Agrarian University (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania) with the participation of the staff of the Botanical Garden of the Belgorod State University. The morphological features of P. polygamum are described: the structure of vegetative and generative organs. An assessment of the dynamics of the formation of aboveground phytomass, indicators of photosynthetic activity, productivity of the aboveground mass and seed productivity during the cultivation of P. polygamum under the conditions of culture is given. It has been established that the species P. polygamum, which is promising for fodder production, has a high bioresource potential under the conditions of North Ossetia-Alania and in culture can ensure the maintenance of the stability of cenopopulations throughout all the years of cultivation. The leaf area on average over four years of research was 48.5 thousand m2 (ha−1), photosynthetic potential-1.3 million m2 (ha−1), net productivity of photosynthesis-4.7 g (m−2) per day, yield of aboveground phytomass-321 q (ha−1) (r = 0.39-0.91). On average, when cultivated in culture, individuals of P. polygamum formed generative shoots-843.9 pcs. (m−2) per day; heads on 1 shoot-3.7 pcs.; seeds in 1 head-10.1 pcs.; seeds from 1 shoot-1.0 g; have a mass of 1000 seeds-8.6 g; seed yield-862.6 kg (ha−1). Seed productivity of P. polygamum varied from 773.3 to 947.8 pcs. per 1 m2. At the same time, the coefficient of seed productivity varied from 19.5 to 40.9%. Such stable productivity allows individuals of P. polygamum in natural conditions to withstand competition with other plants, and in culture makes the species promising for cultivation as a forage species.