The Institute of Forage Crops – Pleven, with a well-prepared scientific personnel potential and management structure, plays a remarkable role on a regional and national scale for the development of forage production in Bulgaria. In 1963, with a decision of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences in connection with the specialization of scientific research institutes, the activity of IFC was directed primarily in the field of grass and forage production. The academic staff begins scientific activity on two main problems: „Development and implementation of industrial technologies and varieties to increase grass-forage production“ and „Conservation and processing of green and waste roughage“. Over a long period of time, these problems have been solved on the basis of research projects and technologies, some of which still retain their relevance today and occupy a leading place in scientific activity.

As a result of the long-term selection activity at the Institute, 26 varieties were created and recognized in 11 annual and perennial grass and legume forage crops. Currently, ten applications for official variety testing have been submitted to the Executive Agency for Variety Testing, Approbation and Seed Control (EAVAS) for variety testing for distinctness, homogeneity and stability (RHS) of alfalfa, spring and winter forage pea, white lupine and Lathyrus. As a result of many years of research, 13 technologies and 10 auxiliary materials (manuals, guide books, brochures, books) have been developed and approved at the Institute, where users find answers to all questions related to the individual stages, norms and terms of growing forage crops, modern integrated weed, enemy and disease control systems, economical, energy-saving approaches to high-quality forage and seed production from alfalfa, soybeans,  Birdsfoot trefoil, Sainfoin, red and white clover, grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis and  Bromus inermis), sorghum, peas, vetch, canola, natural and sown pastures.

Chemical silage preparations have been created, recognized as inventions. In response to the requirements for environmentally friendly feed production, Bactosil and Bactozym biological preparations were created. 5 strains of lactic acid bacteria with high efficiency of transforming sugars into lactic acid have been isolated, as a guarantee for successful and environmentally friendly ensiling. A method was created for the quantitative determination of gas losses during ensiling and their relationship with silage quality.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CERTIFICATES OF PLANT VARIETIES INSTITUTE OF FORAGE CROPS PLEVEN

nullALFALFA
Medicago sativa L.
Dara
Authors: Daniela Kertikova, Bojana Dochkova, Todor Kertikov, Anna Ilieva, Vesco Blazhev
Certificate #10590
DARA is the first Bulgarian alfalfa variety created for intensive use. The plants are tall, upright and well leafed. The stem is four-edged, hairy, with fine white lying hairs. The petiole has a well-defined groove along its entire length. Beans are characterized by 2-4 spiral whorls. The seeds are kidney-shaped with an amber-yellow color. Under irrigated conditions, up to 7 undergrowths are obtained per year, and under non-irrigated conditions – up to 4 undergrowths. The Dara variety is characterized by intensive autumn growth. The variety is distinguished by high vitality, longevity and complex resistance to diseases and enemies.

nullALFALFA
Medicago sativa L.
Pleven 6
Authors: Zahari Georgiev, Ayten Ibrimova
Certificate #10055
PLEVEN 6 is a synthetic population. Plants are upright. In case of nest sowing, the plants reach over 100 cm in height. The stems are medium thick and well leafy. The leaves are medium to large, with a green to dark green color. The inflorescences are medium compact with many colors on them. The beans are brown to dark brown with 2-3 spiral whorls. The seeds are light yellow with an absolute weight of 1.95 to 2.00 g. The variety shows average resistance to root rot.

nullALFALFA
Medicago sativa L.
Obnova 10
Authors: Zahari Angelov, Vesco Blazhev
Certificate #10763
VARIETY OBNOVA 10 belongs to Medicago varia. Plants reach a height of 100-120 cm at full maturity. The stems are medium thick, tender and with good lodging resistance. It is characterized by good foliage. The leaves are medium-sized, dark to light green. Beans are brown to dark brown with 2-4 whorls on the spiral. The seeds are light yellow with an absolute weight of up to 2 g. Under non-irrigated conditions, the yield of vegetative biomass varies from 1150 to 1420 kg/day, and under irrigated conditions – over 2600 kg/day. Seed yield varies from 35 to 80 kg/da. It is characterized by good resistance to root rot.

nullFORAGE PEAS
Pisum sativum L.
Pleven 4
Authors: Salyu Sachanski, Donka Stefanova, Penka Boteva
Certificate #10061
PLEVEN 4 is a Bulgarian variety of spring forage pea. The plants are medium tall – 80 – 120 cm and well leafy. The flowers are white. Pods are 2 per fruit stalk with 4 to 6 seeds. The mass of 1000 seeds varies between 190 and 200 g. The seed coat is colorless and the seed part are yellow. It is characterized by relatively good resistance to economically important diseases and enemies. It is intended for combined use – production of green biomass and grain.

nullFORAGE PEAS
Pisum sativum L.
Kerpo
Authors: Ivaylo Popov, Todor Kertikov, Daniela Kertikova Enrolled in NSL in 2010, Certificate No. 10852
KERPO is a new Bulgarian variety of spring forage pea. The plants are medium tall (60-80cm) and well leafy. The leaf is folded with a maximum number of petals – 6, which are medium in size. The flowers are white, located two on a flower stalk. Ripe beans have a light beige color, a convex shell and a weak degree of curvature. The seeds are spherical in shape. The variety sets an average of 7-8 productive pods, with 5-6 well-nourished seeds. The mass of 1000 seeds is 240-250 g. Grain yield is from 300 to 500 kg/day. It is characterized by a shorter growing season or early maturity and is suitable for use in the direction of grain and green mass. In 2009 the Kerpo variety has been established as a standard in terms of biological and economic qualities in the country.

nullVETCH
Vicia sativa L.
Tempo
Authors: Todor Kertikov, Daniela Kertikova, Marin Pehlivanov, Boris Yankov, Ivan Dimitrov
Registered in NSL in 2010, Certificate No. 10924
TEMPO is the newest Bulgarian variety of spring vetch. The plants are medium tall and well leafy. The leaves are compound, composed of 4-6 pairs of leaflets that are medium in size. The flowers are white, arranged in pairs on short stalks in the axils of the leaves. Ripe beans have a light beige color, a convex shell and a short beak. The seeds are spherical in shape, brown in color, with a large and distinct brown color. The variety lays an average of 7-8 productive pods with about seven well-fed seeds. The mass of 1000 seeds is 65-70 g. The variety has good productivity, early ripening, lodging resistance and good adaptability. It is suitable for use in grain direction and for green mass.

nullPERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Lolium perenne L.
IFK Harmoniya
Authors: Aneliya Katova, Petar Vekovski, Georgi Georgiev, Anna Ilieva, Yordanka Naydenova
Enter in the National variety list (NVL) in 2009, Certificate No. 10846.
HARMONIA is the first Bulgarian diploid perennial ryegrass, suitable for creating pastures and landscaping. The plants are perennial with a well-developed bearded root system, intensive tillering, with a semi-erect to erect habit, forming numerous and well-leafed generative and vegetative shoots. The plants start developing in the spring when the soil warms up to 3-4°C and continue their vegetation until the first frosts. They form medium-tall stems (at the beginning of heading 30-37 cm and in full heading 47-57 cm). By April 15-20, they reach pasture maturity and the height of the grass stand 20-25 cm. The variety is suitable for frequent mowing and intensive grazing. It is characterized by greater durability, winter resistance and drought tolerance. The yield of hay is on average 800-900 kg/da, and of seeds 50-60 kg/da. It can participate as a component of pasture mixtures with alfalfa, white clover or birds foot trefoil, and for decorative purposes in mixtures with red fescue.

nullPERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Lolium perenne L.
Tetrany
Author: Aneliya Katova
Enter in the NVL in 2017. Certificate No. 11111
TETRANY is the first Bulgarian tetraploid variety of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The variety is early to medium early (phenophase heading occurs in the period from May 15-21), highly productive and long-lasting, ecologically stable (winter-resistant and drought-tolerant), tolerant to crown rust. It has a high productivity of green and dry mass under irrigated and non-irrigated growing conditions. The variety is multifunctional, suitable for pasture, hay-pasture and decorative use, alone or in mixtures with alfalfa and white clover for fodder, or with red fescue for decorative and sports-technical sward, with a high percentage of soil coverage. Plants grow early in spring when the soil warms up to 3-4 °C and continue their vegetation until the first frosts. By April 15-20, it reaches pasture maturity with a height of 25-30 cm. The yield of hay is the highest, compared to the other varieties of perennial ryegrass, on average 900-1100 kg/da, and of seeds is 60-80 kg/da.

nullPERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Lolium perenne L.
Tetramis
Author: Aneliya Katova
Enter in the NVL in 2017. Certificate No. 11112
TETRAMIS is a new tetraploid variety, very early (phenophase heading is observed from April 26-30), highly productive, ecologically stable (winter-resistant and drought-tolerant). It is distinguished by greater durability, tolerance to crown rust. It is suitable for creating meadow and pasture grasses, alone or in mixtures with alfalfa, white clover and red fescue, as well as for decorative purposes. The variety tolerates frequent mowing and is resistant to trampling. Biomass has a high nutritional value. The plants have a well-developed bearded root system, intensive twining, with an upright habit and are 65 cm high at the beginning of heading and 88 cm at full heading. They grow very early in spring when the soil warms up to 3-4 °C and continue their vegetation until the first frosts. By April 10, pasture maturity is reached with a height of 25-30 cm. The yield of hay is on average 900 – 1000 kg/da, and the yield of seeds is the highest, compared to the other varieties of perennial ryegrass, on average 70 – 90 kg/da.
nullCRESTED WHEATGRASS
Agropyron cristatum L.
Svejina
Authors:: Aneliya Katova, Petar Vekovski, Anna Ilieva, Yordanka Naydenova
Enter in the NVL in 2009. Certificate No. 10839
SVEJINA is the first Bulgarian diploid variety of crested wheatgrass. The plants are xeromesophytic, with an upright habit, a well-developed root system, grow in early spring when the soil warms up to 3-4 °C and continue their vegetation until the first frosts. By April 15-20, pasture maturity is reached (grass height 20-25 cm). Svejina variety heads from May 18-23 and blooms June 6-10. It is distinguished by a very long durability of more than 10 years, high winter resistance and drought resistance, resistance to leaf diseases and tolerance to high summer temperatures. The yield of hay is on average 800-900 kg/da, and of seeds 40-50 kg/da. It is suitable for creating pastures, anti-erosion grasslands and maintaining the landscape. It can be used as a component of pasture mixtures with white clover or birds foot trefoil, and also for decorative purposes.

null STANDARD WHEATGRASS
Agropyron desertorum Fisch.
Morava
Authors:: Aneliya Katova, Petar Vekovski, Anna Ilieva, Yordanka Naydenova
Enter in the NVL in 2009. Certificate No. 10840
MORAVA is the first Bulgarian tetraploid variety of standard wheatgrass. The plants are xerophytic, perennial grasses with an erect habit, a well-developed root system with a very long durability of more than 10 years, high winter hardiness and drought resistance and resistance to leaf diseases. The plants are 40-45 cm high at the beginning of heading and 80-90 cm at full heading, they grow in early spring when the soil warms up to 3-4 °C and continue their vegetation until the first frosts. The Morava variety heading from May 18-23 and flowers June 6-10. The yield of hay is on average 900-1000 kg/da, and of seeds 50-60 kg/da. It is suitable for hay and hay-pasture use, creation of anti-erosion turf, landscape maintenance and as a component of hay mixtures with alfalfa or saifoin.

nullCOCKSFOOT
Dactylis glomerata L.
Dabrava
Author: Petar Vekovski
Certificate No 10066
DABRAVA is a synthetic variety suitable for growing in mixtures with leguminous species, especially alfalfa. Plants have an upright habit (hay type) and reach 100 to 118 cm at full maturity. The variety is medium-late, with great vitality and longevity (5 years and more), drought and cold resistance, leaf and stem rust tolerance and good forage quality. The beginning of heading (technical hay maturity for the first undergrowth) occurs around May 7-10. The plants are distinguished by great vigor in pure and mixed crops, growing very vigorously in spring and after mowing. In a mixture with alfalfa, the variety provides a dense and uniform grass stand. The Dabrava variety can be grown in all regions of the country under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in mixtures with alfalfa, sainfoin and birds foot trefoil. High yield of forage dry biomass 800-1000 kg/da, and of seeds over 60 kg/da.