Analysis of honey productivity of robinia (Robinia pseudoaca-cia L.) plantations in forest vegetation conditions of the steppe don region

Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is known for high honey productivity: in Ukraine, in Romania it is 600-800 kg, in Nonblack soil area it is up to 360 kg from 1 ha of a continuous forest stand.According to observations of the scientists, a bee family can collect up to 8 kg of honey under favorable weather conditions from a Robinia tree, and under adverse weather there were from 4 to 6 kg of Robinia honey in strong families at the apiary.The task of our study was to determine honey productivity of Robinia depending on locality, exposure and the slopesteepness. Optimum forest vegetation conditions for maximum nectar emission by Robinia flowers were defined. A number of methods defining taxation indices, sugar content in nectar, blooming intensity and honey productivity was used to solve the assigned tasks. Carried out comparative analysis of honey productivity indices showed that local topography influences the blooming terms of plants and nectar emission. So, the most productive locality for beekeeping is locality with gulches. It provides the best honey yield under favourable meteorology and forest vegetation conditions.