Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)  grows in regions with the most moderate climate conditions. It grows well on properly drained soils with sufficient content of lime, potassium, and phosphates. Lucerne has a deep penetrating root system, which makes it capable of withstanding severe droughts.  It is a productive plant of a high nutritional value.  Lucerne begins growing in early spring and grows again quickly after it has been cut.  It may be put for storage as hay and may be ensilage mixed together with other grasses.  Lucerne may be dried in driers and used for making granules.  The plant is divided in accordance with the lethargy grade taking into account the autumn growing after the last cutting. The grades are calculated from 1 to 9, where grade 9 corresponds to the highest growing activity in the autumn period, which means least winter resistance.

DIMITRA is an early-season tetraploid variety of alfalfa of Italian breeding ("Continental semences s.p.a."). During testing in 2015–2018 the average dry matter  yield was 155 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 279 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Zhyrovichskaya SS agricultural plant in 2017. 

The plants grow quickly in spring and after cuttings. The average height of the plant is 83 cm, the leafiness is 51%. The winter hardiness, lodging resistance and drought are slightly lower than those of the control variety Prevoshodnaya (4,5:4,8 and 4,4 points respectively). Plants and can be cut 4–5 times during the growing season.

Applicant: Feldsaaten Freudenberger GmbH &C o.KG, Germany.

Included in the State Register of Belarus in 2011.

Morphological features: erect type bush with a round, soft, pubescent stem and an average layering capacity. The leaf formation:  from average to rich. The leaves are green, ellipsoid, soft, slightly pubescent, without wax coating. The stipules are elliptical, green, slightly pubescent. Inflorescence is a shortened brush, many-flowered, cylindrical in shape, with medium density. The flowers are light purple. The beans are 1.5-2.0 turns spiral-twisted, large, light brown. Seeds are reniform, angular, yellow or light brown.

Economic and biological characteristics: during testing in 2008–2010 the average dry matter yield was 150.8 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 233.4 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Mozyr SS agricultural plant in 2009.  The variety is characterized by resilience to lodging and drought. Winter hardiness at the level of the control variety and average was 4.8 points. The plants grow quickly in spring and after cuttings, and can be cut 3–4 times during the growing season. Content in dry matter: protein — 17.3%, calcium — 1.3%, magnesium — 0.25%, fiber — 33.9%. Collection of protein — 26.5 с/ha.

Applicant: Feldsaaten Freudenberger GmbH & Co.KG.

Included in the State Register of Belarus in 2010.

Morphological features: it is a compact half-upright bush with a rounded, hairless, branched stem and green, trifoliate, ovate, slightly pubescent leaves without wax. The flowers are blue-violet, the beans are spiral in 2–3 turns. The seeds are reniform, angularly rounded, yellow-brown.

Economic and biological characteristics: PLATO is an early-ripe variety. During testing in 2007–2009 the average dry matter yield was 147.1 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 260.3 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Mozyr SS agricultural plant in 2008. The plants grow quickly in spring and after cuttings. Plants can be cut 3–4 times during the growing season. The variety is characterized by resilience to lodging and winter resistance. Content in dry matter: protein — 16.1%, calcium — 1.39%, magnesium — 0.26%. Collection of protein — 25.1 с/a.

Applicant: DLF-Seeds A/S,  Denmark.

Included in the State Register of Belarus since 2016.

Morphological features: the plants are of medium height. The green color intensity is medium.  The length of the central leaf is medium, the width is from medium to wide. The flowers are purple.

Economic and biological characteristics: CRENO is a mid-season, winter-hardy, resistant to lodging and relatively drought-resistant alfalfa variety. During testing in 2013–2015 the average dry matter yield was 109 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 170 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Lepelskaya SS agricultural plant in 2015. The variety grows well in the spring and after cutting. The plants can be cut 3–4 times during the growing season. The content in the dry matter of protein is 18.97%, the collection of protein is 21.5 c/ha.

Applicant: DLF-Seeds A/S,  Denmark.

Included in the State Register of Belarus since 2016.

Morphological features: the bush is erect. The stem height is 55–80 cm. The bushiness is abundant. The leaves are round, dark green. The flowers are light purple. The seeds are reniform, light and dark yellow.

Economic and biological characteristics: DAISY is a mid-season variety. Its vegetation period lasts 55–63 days from the beginning of spring growth to the first cut. It grows moderately in the spring, and quickly after cuttings, giving 3–4 cuttings over the summer. The average dry matter yield during the years of testing was 91,5 centners per hectare, and the maximum yield 174 centners per hectare. Content of protein is 18%. The variety is particular about soil fertility and acidity. It grows well only on neutral soils with a pH of 6.5–7.0. It develops well on sandy and eroded loamy soils rich in nutrients. The variety is winter-hardy.

Authors: Y. Piskovatsky, Y. Nenarokov, G. Stepanova, V. Mihalev.

Applicant: V.P. Williams All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Feeds.

Included in the State Register of Belarus in 2008

Morphological features: the bush is erect and compact. The stem is round, ramate.  The leaves are green, elliptical, with nicks at the top, slightly pubescent, without wax. The stipules of the middle tier are light green, lanceolate, with pubescence. The flowers are blue with a slight mixture of other flowers. The beans are spiral 2.5–4.0 turns. Seeds are reniform, angularly round, yellow-violet color.

Economic and biological characteristics: VEGA-87 is an early-ripe variety. During testing in 2005–2007 the average dry matter yield was 115.7 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 159.4 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Lepelskaya SS agricultural plant in 2007. The time from the start of the spring vegetation till the first cut is 44–52 days. The variety is winter-hardy and resistant to lodging. It grows quickly after cutting. It grows well and develops on slightly acidic and neutral soils. The content of protein in the dry matter is 16.1%, calcium — 1,22%.

Applicant: Ural Scientific Research Institute for Agriculture (Russia).

Included in the State Register of Belarus in 2017.

Morphological features: the plants are from low to medium height, bush type is half-upright. The leaves are dark green. The start time of flowering is average. The frequency of plants with very dark blue-violet flowers is low. The frequency of plants with mixed flowers is high. The frequency of plants with cream, white or yellow flowers is moderate. The length of the stem in the full bloom, including the head, is medium.

Economic and biological characteristics: SARGA is a mid-season diploid variety. During testing in 2014–2016 the average dry matter yield was 113 centners per hectare, and the maximum, 211 centners per hectare, was achieved at the Lepelskaya SS agricultural plant in 2016.  The variety is winter-resistant, resistant to lodging, relatively resistant to drought, brown patch, and root rot. Plants can be cut 3 times during the growing season. Content of protein in dry matter — 18.86%, collection of protein — 21,7 с/ha.