Crops
Galega orientalis Lam. - Goat.s rue, galega, fodder galega, eastern galega.
Taxonomic position.
Family Leguminosae Endl., genus Galega L.Biology and morphology.
2n = 2x = 16. Perennial with pinnate (sometimes imparipinnate) oval leaves borne on stems, 0.8-1.50 m. Branch stems arise from middle of main stems. Tap-rooted and rhizomatous with over wintered rhizomes emerging in spring to initiate new shoots which eventually take root and become independent plants. Mellifluous inflorescences comprised of bright lilac clusters with 25-70 florets. Full flowering occurs in the year after the establishment year. Pods 2 to 5 cm long containing 5 to 8 kidney-shaped seeds, yellowish green in color but later light brown. Seed size is 2.5-4.0 mm long, l.7 - 2.0 mm wide. Cross-pollinated by bees.Distribution.
Was introduced into culture in the 1920s. The first cultivar .Gale., was released for production in 1987. At the present time this new crop is cultivated on relatively large areas in the forest and steppe lands in 75 regions and republics of former USSR countries. Thirteen cultivars have state permission for utilization including: in Russia - 9 cultivars, in Byelorussia -2, in Ukraine - 2 and in Russia, Estonia jointly - 1.Ecology.
Adapted to a range of soil types although not to acidic soils. Grows best on well-drained, light soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5. Prefers deep, friable soils. Responds to improved soil fertility from P and K application (also needed to replenish nutrient removal by conservation crops). Not persistent on peaty and wet mineral soils. Attains maturity 2-3 weeks earlier than lucerne. Very winterhardy though may be winter-killed by ice cover. Early spring growth susceptible to late frosts. Drought tolerance is high but lower than alfalfa. Tolerant of flooding but intolerant of water logging.Utilization and economic value.
Productive, N-fixing, protein-rich new forage adapted to a range of soil and environmental conditions. Good long-term persistence. Suitable for hay or silage. Better retention of leaves after drying for hay than lucerne. Heavy wilting and an effective silage additive is advisable when ensiling pure-sown galega because of its high protein-low water- soluble carbohydrate characteristic and high buffering capacity. Grass/galega mixtures have better silage characteristics than pure galega because of the grass characteristics. Perennial persistence is dependent on persistence of rhizome network. Persisance for 7 to 10 years and more has been observed in NIS countries. Growth habit makes it essentially a species suitable for infrequent defoliation for silage, hay or green fodder. Seed inoculation with specific Rhizobium galegae required when first establishing a stand. Feeding value is highest at pre-flowering stage. Digestibility, crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrate values decrease with plant maturity and its associated decrease in leaf: stem ratio and increase in fiber content. In contrast to most forages, the stubble remaining after harvesting a seed crop is of moderate feeding value and can be ensiled or hayed. Compatible with non-aggressive grass companions such as timothy, meadow fescue and smooth-stalked meadow fescue but performance and persistence is depressed by competitive companion grasses such as cocksfoot, smooth brome grass and tall oat-grass, particularly when the mixture is N-fertilized. Generally not tolerant of grazing but regrowth in late autumn following a second conservation cut is suitable for grazing. Resistant to diseases and pests but further confirmation will only emerge if and when much larger areas of galega are grown. Forage mass productivity ranges from 18-70 MT/ha, hay productivity ranges 4.5-17.5 MT/ha and seed productivity is 200-300 kg/ha. It is an excellent source of nectar and pollen for honeybees.Reference citations:
Golovkin B.N. 1988. Cultigenic plant area. Moscow: Nauka. 184 pp. (In Russian)Medvedev P.F., Smetannikova A.I. 1981. The forage crops of European part of the USSR. Leningrad: Kolos. 336 pp. (In Russian)
Soil resources of the USSR (Agricultural regions of areas and republics of USSR). 1990. Moscow. V. 1: 260. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 1994. -Moscow: -218 pp. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 1996. -Moscow: -171 pp. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 1999. -Moscow: -192 pp. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 2000. -Moscow: -232 pp. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 2001. -Moscow: -252 pp. (In Russian)
State register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization. Plant cultivars. 2003. -Moscow: -236 pp. (In Russian)
State register of Ukrainian plant cultivars. 1992. -Kiev: Urojai, 199 pp. (In Russian)
The register of plant cultivars in Ukraine. 1996. -Kiev: Urojai, 259 pp. (In Russian)