RECEIVING OF THE NEW FORMS OF RED CLOVER FOR GROWING IN NORTH OSSETIA, KABARDINOBALKARIA, AND CHECHEN REPUBLIC - Ecological Consequences of Increasing Crop Productivity - page 24

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Degradation of mountain ecosystems breaches natural processes of energy exchange.
It diminishes soil fertility and impoverishes species number of plant organisms. One
of the methods of restoration of disturbed landscapes is the undertow of perennial
grasses, especially legumes, which have vigorous root system, high content of protein,
and capacity to accumulate biological nitrogen in soil [1].
In the intensifi cation of fodder production and making agriculture friendlier to
environment, a special role belongs to fi eld foddergrass cultivation. Perennial legumes
are an important component of it. Due to their vigorous root system, perennial grasses
restrain processes of erosion on slope lands [2, 3].
In modern conditions, creation of seed grass is necessary, especially in mountain
conditions on slope lands, where soil and micronutrients are wiped out. Known tech-
nologies of legume cultivation include additional fertilization of grass by molybde-
num [4]. Molybdenum facilitates increase of nitrogen fi xation, development of plant,
and in the fi nal result increase of seed yield of clover. A method is proposed to sprinkle
the plants by molybdenum-acid ammonium [5]. But several other micronutrients are
necessary to increase the activity of tubercles. Besides, molybdenum is sprayed on the
stages of budding and fl owering, that is, at the time when the grass has already formed,
and it decreases the potential of clover plant. Treatment by micronutrients even in
small doses on large areas increases costs.
Undersow of legume grasses such as clover, alfalfa, melilot, coronilla, and others
is fulfi lled for conservation of soil and restoration of fertility on degraded mountain
hayfi elds [3]. This agro-technical process is accomplished on the second way of life,
when seed grass is formed. Plants on the second year of life after the harvest of seeds
fall out, and as a result biological diversity decreases on mountain hayfi elds and pas-
tures. Usually two crops—clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa
L.)—are sown at the same time [5]. These legumes oppress each other in the mixed
crop, especially on the second year of life. In the fi rst year after joint sowing those
grasses are yet poorly developed. As a result soil erosion takes place. We have used
wide-space method of undersow of alfalfa seeds under the grass of clover of the sec-
ond year of life [6, 7].
Peculiar to legumes hardness of seeds has a signifi cant infl uence on their germina-
tion rate, thus it is necessary to use special methods to increase their germination [8].
Clover plants develop well on slightly acid soils, while alfalfa prefers neutral soils,
so for sowing of the second crop alfalfa seeds were mixed with zeolite-containing clay
alanite.
Recently, in Russia and abroad, natural zeolites are used successfully to increase
the productivity of agriculture and yield of various crops. Such interest in these miner-
als was evoked by their unique specifi c property. Carcass aluminosilicates have high
resistance to acids and thermal stability. They are also highly active sorbents, cheap
selective ionites, and molecular sieves. Their selectivity, molecular-sieve effect, and
sorption capacity to cations of alkaline, alkali-earth, rare-earth and several heavy met-
als, the existence of large deposits, possibility of use before preliminary concentration,
and low cost make possible to use zeolites widely in agriculture, industry, and environ-
ment protection [9].