MIXED SOWING OF ANNUAL CROPS FOR SILAGE PRODUCTION UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE HILL-PLAIN ZONE OF THE AKMOLA REGION

Abstract

The article presents the results of comprehensive studies aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of mixed sowings of annual crops for silage production in the hill-steppe zone of the Akmola region.  The main objective of the study was not only to identify optimal combinations of legume and cereal crops, but to examine the effect of foliar treatment with the “Lider S” preparation on plant biometric parameters, their growth, productivity, and the quality of the resulting forage mass. The experiment included various binary mixtures of crops (oats, barley, pea, vetch), along with control plots of monocultures. The research involved evaluating laboratory and field germination, plant density, height, leafiness, phenological development, as well as yield and nutritional quality of green biomass. The results showed that legume–cereal mixtures increased green mass yield by 30–90% compared to monocultures. Additionally, the use of the “Lider S” preparation improved plant survival and increased yield by 4.7–7.7%. The highest productivity was observed in pea–barley mixtures, with yields reaching up to 201 centners per hectare. The findings confirm the effectiveness of mixed sowings as a sustainable approach to strengthening the forage base.