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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (3): 97-110.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024057

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Selection of intercropping combinations suitable for alfalfa and Poaceae forages in semi-arid areas of the Loess Plateau

Ya-jiao ZHAO(), Xiao-jing LIU(), Fang LIN   

  1. College of Pratacultural Science,Gansu Agricultural University,Key Laboratory Pratacultural Ecosystem,Ministry of Education,Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province,Sino-US Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability,Lanzhou 730070,China
  • Received:2024-02-26 Revised:2024-06-25 Online:2025-03-20 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: Xiao-jing LIU

Abstract:

The research aimed to screen suitable intercropping combinations of forage in semi-arid areas of the Loess Plateau. From 2016 to 2019, a field experiment was conducted in Lanzhou, Gansu province, involving intercropping alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), oat (Avena sativa) and triticale (Triticale). The experiment explored the production characteristics and land use characteristics of forage intercropping. It was found that the hay yield from alfalfa/maize intercropping and alfalfa/sorghum intercropping was significantly higher than that of monoculture alfalfa. In 2018 and 2019, hay yield and crude protein yield of alfalfa/oat intercropping and alfalfa/triticale intercropping were significantly higher than those of corresponding monocultures of gramineous forages. Also, group dry forage yield and crude protein yield of alfalfa/sorghum (maize) was higher than other planting patterns, and the crude protein yields of maize, oat (except the second year of planting) and triticale was significantly increased in intercropping systems compared with their monoculture; alfalfa exhibited the opposite pattern. In the four intercropping combinations, the land equivalent ratio, regional time equivalence rate and land utilization efficiency were all greater than 1; the aggressivity of the four gramineous forages was greater than 0, and the competition ratio was greater than 1 in each case. Among the studied intercropping combinations, the land equivalent ratio, regional time equivalence ratio and land utilization efficiency were the highest in alfalfa/triticale intercropping systems. In summary, to optimize yield, it is recommended to adopt alfalfa/maize and alfalfa/sorghum intercroppings; to optimize land use, it is recommended to adopt alfalfa/triticale intercropping.

Key words: intercropping, forage, production performance, land use, selection