Feed Characteristics and State of Medicago Falcata L. Cenopopulations in Siberia

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of Medicago falcat L. – a widespread fodder plant of the natural flora of Siberia. The aim of the research is to find out the fodder value of the species, its adaptability to different botanical and geographical zones of Siberia, as well as its stability and self-restoration ability under anthropogenic influence. To this end, the ontogenetic structure, morphometric parameters, and seed production of 15‑25 middle-aged generative individuals, as well as the chemical composition of fodder samples, were studied in 13 cenopopulations of M. falcata. The study of the fodder value of M. falcata in a wide ecological and geographical range showed that the protein content in air-dry matterdiffered from region to region: in Khakassia – on average 22.9%, in the Altai Republic – up to 15.9%, in the Novosibirsk region – up to 14.33%. One kilogram of alfalfahay contains from 0.47 to 0.67 feed units. It was found that the long life cycle of M. falcata in different botanical-geographical zones can take place in different variants, depending on the level of anthropogenic influence. Taproot plants are more common in undisturbed phytocenoses, whereas in phytocenoses exposed to anthropogenic impacts, rootstock taproot plants are predominant. Consequently, anthropogenic factors influence the number and biomass of species, the mode of seed regeneration and the ontogenetic structure of M. falcata conopopulations.