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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (7): 175-187.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025281

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Effects of nitrogen application and sowing rates on the seed yield and quality of Elymus nutans ‘Baqing’

Zhi-gang SU1(), You-jian HAN1, Jian-hang ZHANG2, Jun-xi WU3, Ya-mei XU1, Baosaihenna1, Yan-jun MIAO1, Zhong-hua CAO4()   

  1. 1.College of Forestry and Grass,Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University,Linzhi 860000,China
    2.College of Plant Science,Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University,Linzhi 860000,China
    3.Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
    4.College of Animal Science,Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University,Linzhi 860000,China
  • Received:2025-07-08 Revised:2025-10-09 Online:2026-07-20 Published:2026-05-21
  • Contact: Zhong-hua CAO

Abstract:

In this study, we explored the effects of the nitrogen application rate and sowing rate on the seed yield and quality of Elymus nutans ‘Baqing’ in the alpine region of Xizang. An experiment was conducted with a two-factor split-plot design; the main area was nitrogen fertilizer addition and the sub-area was sowing rate. The nitrogen fertilization rates were N1 0 kg·ha-1, N2 60 kg·ha-1, N3 120 kg·ha-1, N4 180 kg·ha-1, N5 240 kg·ha-1, and N6 300 kg·ha-1; and the sowing rates were D1 15.0 kg·ha-1, D2 22.5 kg·ha-1, and D3 45.0 kg·ha-1. The seed yield and quality of E. nutans ‘Baqing’ were comprehensively evaluated based on grey correlation degree and the key factors affecting seed yield were identified, with an overall aim to determine the optimal planting configuration for E. nutans ‘Baqing’ for seed production. The results show that the nitrogen application rate and sowing rate had significant effects on the seed yield and quality of E. nutans ‘Baqing’. The main factors closely related to the yield of E. nutans ‘Baqing’ were the number of reproductive branches, number of spikelets/reproductive branches, and 1000-seed weight, and the most important factor contributing to yield was 1000-seed weight. At the sowing rate of 15.0 kg·ha-1, nitrogen application at 180 kg·ha-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield (1182.55 kg·ha-1). At the sowing rate of 22.5 kg·ha-1, nitrogen application at 240 kg·ha-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield (1283.29 kg·ha-1). At the sowing rate of 45.0 kg·ha-1, nitrogen application at 300 kg·ha-1 was required to achieve the maximum seed yield (1023.34 kg·ha-1). These results show that at a constant sowing rate, there is a theoretical maximum value for the nitrogen demand of E. nutans ‘Baqing’. The grey correlation analysis revealed that the nitrogen application rate of 240 kg·ha-1 and the sowing rate of 22.5 kg·ha-1 represented the optimal planting configuration for E. nutans ‘Baqing’. This combination of nitrogen application rate and sowing rate resulted in the best seed yield and quality, and therefore, should be used widely when cultivating E. nutans ‘Baqing’ in the alpine region of Xizang.

Key words: Elymus nutans ‘Baqing’, nitrogen application rate, sowing rate, seed yield, seed quality, comprehensive evaluation