Aspects of the determining the sowing properties of seeds of perennial grasses express method effectiveness in comparison with domestic and international rules

Purpose. To theoretically substantiate the methodology for the accelerated determination of the sowing qualities (express method) of seeds of leguminous and cereal grasses, in particular germination capacity, the amount of hard seeds and viability in comparison with the defining those indicators according to the State standard of Ukraine (SStU 4138-2002), international methodology (ISTA – International seed testing association). Methods. Quantitative, laboratory, mathematical-statistical, observation, comparison, analysis and synthesis. Results. Determination of sowing qualities (germination energy, germination rate, amount of hard seeds) of forage crops according to the methods of SStU 4138-2002; ISTA (international rules for the analysis of seeds) and the express method of accelerated determination, showed the high efficiency and effectiveness of the latter (improved method of swelling seeds of leguminous grasses and preparatory caving of films and swelling of seeds of cereal grasses), which can be used in production conditions to obtain objective information on the sowing properties of seeds of the formed harvest. Conclusions. The express method can be used to determine the viability of legume grass seeds within 3-4 hours by establishing the difference between the number of live and dead seeds. The data obtained are close to the germination rates when analyzing seeds according to the SStU 4138-2002 and ISTA methods and make up 90-95; 93-95; 92-95% respectively. Germination of seeds of cereal grasses using the caryopsis method allows determining the viability of seeds on the 2nd-5th day in species with high germination energy (Bromus inermis, different types of Lolium perenne) and 7th-10th day in species with slow germination (Festuca rubra L). Seed germination of these species according to the express method was 84- 92%, while according to the SStU 4138-2002 and ISTA methods it made up 91-94; 90-96%, and the analysis was carried out on the 10th and 21st day.