Sainfoin (Onobrychis Adans.): a beneficial crop in organic grassland farming (review)

Perennial legumes are the most beneficial crops in the organic grassland farming. These crops include sainfoin, which should take its rightful place in forage lands, especially in modern conditions of increasing aridity. Three species are cultivated in Russia: Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., O. arenaria (Kit.) DC and O. transcaucasica Grossh. The cultivation of sainfoin is of great ecological importance due to its special ecological properties and chemical composition. It has a deep and highly branched root system, capable of absorbing nutrients from deep soil layers. The root system of sainfoin absorbs minerals from hard-to-reach soil compounds, so it is little responsive to fertilisation, and can be successfully used in organic grassland farming. Unlike other leguminous grasses, with the exception of the birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin does not cause bloat in ruminants. This is due to the presence of condensed tannins (CTs) in the plant in the amount of 30–80 g per 1 kg of dry matter. СТs increase the amount of non-degradable protein in the rumen, which prevents bloat in ruminants, reduces methane emissions and nitrogen compounds in urine, which in turn reduces the impact of greenhouse gases on the heat balance of the Earth. СТs have shown in vivo anti-parasitic activity against helminths in sheep and goats, improving feed nutrient utilisation and increasing animal productivity. Sainfoin fixes atmospheric nitrogen in an amount up to 150 kg/ha and does not require the application of nitrogen fertilisers, which can pollute groundwater and atmospheric air. Enriching the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients due to their biological accumulation in the upper soil layer, sainfoin contributes to soil fertility. sainfoin provides yields from 4 to 7 t/ha of dry matter with a productive longevity of herbage for 4–7 years reducing the cost of reseeding.

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