Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China
Freshwater shortage and soil salinization are the major constraints for alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) growth in coastal salt–alkali soil of North China. In this study, we analyzed the effects of shallow groundwater tables and alfalfa cultivars on forage yield and nutritional value....
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/2/217 |
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| author | Shichao Wang Kai Guo Asif Ameen Dong Fang Xiaolin Li Xiaojing Liu Lipu Han |
| author_facet | Shichao Wang Kai Guo Asif Ameen Dong Fang Xiaolin Li Xiaojing Liu Lipu Han |
| author_sort | Shichao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freshwater shortage and soil salinization are the major constraints for alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) growth in coastal salt–alkali soil of North China. In this study, we analyzed the effects of shallow groundwater tables and alfalfa cultivars on forage yield and nutritional value. A field simulation experiment was conducted during the growing season of 2019–2021 with three groundwater depths (80, 100, and 120 cm) and five alfalfa cultivars (Magnum 551, Phabulous, Zhongmu No. 1, Zhongmu No. 3, and WL525HQ) under subsurface pipe systems. Alfalfa forage was harvested six times in total during the growing season. Results revealed significant variation among alfalfa cultivars for forage yield at each shallow groundwater depth. The greatest forage yield was recorded in cultivar Phabulous (32.2 and 35.9 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in 2020 and 2021) when planted at 100 cm shallow groundwater depth. Forage yield during the first harvest was 24.6–25.7%, exhibiting the highest ratio of the total annual yield. The effects of shallow groundwater depth, cultivar, and their interaction were significant (<i>p</i> < 0.01) on the turn-green ratio of alfalfa. Cultivar Zhongmu No. 1 had the highest turn-green ratio at the 100 cm groundwater depth, while cultivar WL525HQ showed the lowest turn-green ratio at each groundwater depth. Moreover, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content were also significantly affected by shallow groundwater depth, cultivars, and their interaction at different harvests. Cultivars Magnum551, Zhongmu No. 1, Zhongmu No. 3, and Phabulous furnished the highest CP, while cultivar WL525HQ performed the poorest in terms of CP in this study. These results propose that planting the cultivar Phabulous at a groundwater depth of 100 cm could be a suitable agronomic practice for alfalfa forage production in the coastal salt–alkali area of North China. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e00f980db5d54bc2972ba0000554d2972023-11-23T20:45:56ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292022-01-0112221710.3390/life12020217Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North ChinaShichao Wang0Kai Guo1Asif Ameen2Dong Fang3Xiaolin Li4Xiaojing Liu5Lipu Han6Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaRice Programme, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore 39020, PakistanKey Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, CAS Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Saline Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, ChinaFreshwater shortage and soil salinization are the major constraints for alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) growth in coastal salt–alkali soil of North China. In this study, we analyzed the effects of shallow groundwater tables and alfalfa cultivars on forage yield and nutritional value. A field simulation experiment was conducted during the growing season of 2019–2021 with three groundwater depths (80, 100, and 120 cm) and five alfalfa cultivars (Magnum 551, Phabulous, Zhongmu No. 1, Zhongmu No. 3, and WL525HQ) under subsurface pipe systems. Alfalfa forage was harvested six times in total during the growing season. Results revealed significant variation among alfalfa cultivars for forage yield at each shallow groundwater depth. The greatest forage yield was recorded in cultivar Phabulous (32.2 and 35.9 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in 2020 and 2021) when planted at 100 cm shallow groundwater depth. Forage yield during the first harvest was 24.6–25.7%, exhibiting the highest ratio of the total annual yield. The effects of shallow groundwater depth, cultivar, and their interaction were significant (<i>p</i> < 0.01) on the turn-green ratio of alfalfa. Cultivar Zhongmu No. 1 had the highest turn-green ratio at the 100 cm groundwater depth, while cultivar WL525HQ showed the lowest turn-green ratio at each groundwater depth. Moreover, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content were also significantly affected by shallow groundwater depth, cultivars, and their interaction at different harvests. Cultivars Magnum551, Zhongmu No. 1, Zhongmu No. 3, and Phabulous furnished the highest CP, while cultivar WL525HQ performed the poorest in terms of CP in this study. These results propose that planting the cultivar Phabulous at a groundwater depth of 100 cm could be a suitable agronomic practice for alfalfa forage production in the coastal salt–alkali area of North China.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/2/217coastal saline soilshallow groundwater depthalfalfa cultivarsforage yieldnutritional value |
| spellingShingle | Shichao Wang Kai Guo Asif Ameen Dong Fang Xiaolin Li Xiaojing Liu Lipu Han Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China Life coastal saline soil shallow groundwater depth alfalfa cultivars forage yield nutritional value |
| title | Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China |
| title_full | Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China |
| title_short | Evaluation of Different Shallow Groundwater Tables and Alfalfa Cultivars for Forage Yield and Nutritional Value in Coastal Saline Soil of North China |
| title_sort | evaluation of different shallow groundwater tables and alfalfa cultivars for forage yield and nutritional value in coastal saline soil of north china |
| topic | coastal saline soil shallow groundwater depth alfalfa cultivars forage yield nutritional value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/2/217 |
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