Sainfoin, like alfalfa, is sown both with clean sowing and under the cover of various crops. Mostly, early spring cereals are chosen as the cover crop. So we sow as early as possible, in the first days of the beginning of spring fieldwork. The method of sowing, like cereals, is ordinary.
Germination of sainfoin seeds begins at 1-2 ° C above zero. The optimum temperature is considered to be 19–25 ° C.
Seeding rates in arid steppe regions are 70–80 kg/ha, in the forest-steppe and on irrigation 90–100 kg/ha. The depth of seed placement on heavy soils and in moist areas is 3-4 cm, in drier areas and on light soils – 4-5 cm.
First of all, we remove the crop residues of the integumentary crop from the field. During the harvesting of the cover crop, we try to leave the stubble higher, not lower than 15−20 cm. She, at least somehow, will protect young sainfoin plants from direct sunlight, well, and in winter, contribute to snow retention.
In the spring of the second year, we carry out two-track harrowing with heavy tooth harrows to remove stubble and loosening the upper soil layer. After each cutting, we also use harrowing.
In sainfoin cultivation sites, starting from the second or third year of use, it is possible to apply such an agricultural technique as slotting. It contributes to the additional accumulation of moisture in the soil, which, in turn, will increase productivity.
Sainfoin is affected by diseases and pests much less than other leguminous herbs.
To protect against weeds in the solderless coverless crops, herbicides are used: nitrate, 30% cf. – 7.0 l / ha. Contribute by spraying the soil before sowing the crop with immediate incorporation.
To get hay to harvest sainfoin, we start the budding phase and try to complete it during its mass flowering. Cutting height of plants not less than 6 cm. When carrying out the last mowing, it is better to increase the stubble to 8−10cm. This will provide a greater accumulation of nutrients in the winter, better snow retention and more effective spring regrowth of sainfoin.