Bee Studies
2012, Vol 4, Num, 2 (Pages: 016-019)
The Importance Of Saınfoın (Onobrychis sp.) Cultıvatıon For Beekeepıng
2 Ordu Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Zootekni Bölümü, ORDU
3 Arıcılık Araştırma İstasyonu Müdürlüğü, ORDU Viewed : 2066 - Downloaded : 1154 An important forage source, sainfoin which is used as a fresh and dry hay in animal nutrition, prevents erosion with its strong root system because it gives azote and organic substance to soil with its nodules and root residues, so it breeds the soil. Besides feeding animals, sainfoin is an important source of pollen and nectar for beekeeping thanks to having attractant flowers. When honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) gets nectar and pollen from sainfoin, at the same time it provides pollination in plant. This situation is one of the best example of mutualism, that occurs between plants and insects.
Inceasing the planting of sainfoin that is cultivated in field area, provides nutrition with its quality roughage, for insects especially honey bee. Sainfoin is not only used as a forage crop other than this, to consider it as bee rangeland provides bee population rises and continuation of the ecosystem in a balanced way.
Keywords : Honey, Honey Bee, Sainfoin, Pollination, Pollen