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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): 139-149.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023165

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Productivity and adaptability of ‘WL’ alfalfa varieties with different fall dormancy in the extremely arid region of Southern Xinjiang

Yan LI1,2(), Fu-long MA1,2, Lu HAN1,2, Hai-zhen WANG3()   

  1. 1.College of Agronomy,Tarim University,Alaer 843300,China
    2.The Research Center of Oasis Agricultural Resources and Environment in Southern Xinjiang,Tarim University,Alaer 843300,China
    3.College of Horticulture and Forestry,Tarim University,Alaer 843300,China
  • Received:2023-05-17 Revised:2023-06-19 Online:2024-03-20 Published:2023-12-27
  • Contact: Hai-zhen WANG

Abstract:

To select alfalfa varieties that can grow well in southern Xinjiang, which is an extremely arid area, six ‘WL’ alfalfa varieties with different fall dormancy levels were screened in a 3-year field trial. Their growth characteristics, overwintering rate, regeneration time, leaf∶stem and hay∶fresh ratios, and fresh and hay yields of the early bloom stage were determined over 3 consecutive years. Then, a grey correlation analysis was conducted to determine which factors made the largest contributions to hay yield. The results showed that WL358 was the earliest and WL712 was the latest to regenerate each season. The growth rate was fastest in WL440 (2.30 cm·d-1) and slowest in WL168 (1.98 cm·d-1). The plant height increased during the 3 growing years and decreased with increased frequency of cutting. The growth period gradually shortened from the first cutting to fourth cutting (initial flowering stage), whereas the growth rate accelerated. The highest average plant height was in WL440 (90.73 cm) over the 3 years, but there was no significant difference in plant height among all the other varieties except for WL343. The leaf∶stem ratio from the first cutting to fourth cutting showed an increasing trend in each year; WL168 had the highest leaf∶stem ratio (0.69) and WL525 had the highest dry∶fresh ratio (0.23). The fresh and hay yields increased gradually over the 3 growing years, and did not differ significantly among the six varieties (P>0.05). The highest average fresh and hay yields over the 3 years were in WL358 (98.21 t·ha-1 and 21.26 t·ha-1, respectively). The lowest fresh yield was in WL168 (76.37 t·ha-1) and the lowest hay yield was in WL525 (16.37 t·ha-1). The results of the grey correlation analysis showed that the factors affecting hay yield were growth rate, fresh yield, dry∶fresh ratio, plant height, dry weight per plant and leaf∶stem ratio. The six varieties were ranked, from highest comprehensive evaluation score to lowest, as follows: WL358>WL440>WL168>WL343>WL712>WL525. Therefore, WL358 showed the best comprehensive performance and was identified as a cultivar suitable for cultivation in southern Xinjiang.

Key words: extreme arid area, alfalfa, fall dormancy, growth rate, production performance, adaptability