Sudangrass productivity when cultivating for fodder in the conditions of the Cis-Ural steppe of the Bashkortostan Republic

Producing high-quality fodder is one of the most urgent priorities in agriculture of the Bashkortostan Republic. The Sudangrass cultivation can address the issue of getting high-quality animal feed in the region. The given paper presents the results of experimental studies on improving the Sudangrass growing technology in the conditions of the Bashkortostan's Cis-Ural steppe, based on the best possible and scientifically proven sowing time, methods and seeding rates. Previous studies have established the way these factors affect the productivity of Sudangrass variety Demskaia. It was found that the Sudangrass variety Demskaia requires a seeding rate of 2.5–3.0 million fertile seeds per 1 ha to realize the productivity potential. The best time for sowing Sudangrass is late May when the soil steadily warms up to +14° - +18°C. The highest crude protein content was observed at earlier sowing with the seeding rate of 2.5-3.0 million fertile seeds per hectare. The higher seeding rate results in the increased leaf area and photosynthetic potential but cuts the net productivity of photosynthesis. The leaf surface area reaches its peak in the "full emergence" phase in the trial with a 15-cm row-width spacing at the seeding rate of 2.5-3.0 million fertile seeds per hectare.