Effects of reseeding and phosphorus application on productivity and soil in improvement of degraded alfalfa stands

doi:10.11686/cyxb2025309

Abstract

Abstract:

The restoration of degraded grassland is the key to the rejuvenation and renewal of grassland and the realization of ecological sustainable development. Reseeding and phosphorus application are important measures to restore and improve the productivity of degraded grassland. In order to address the problem of moderate degradation of alfalfa （Medicago sativa） stands in the rain-fed area of the Loess Plateau， this study used Festuca arundinacea as the experimental renovation species. The research was carried out from 2018 to 2020， using a two-factor randomized block experimental design， and three reseeding rates （R₁： 20.2 kg·ha^-1； R₂： 40.4 kg·ha^-1； R₃： 60.6 kg·ha^-1） and a gradation of four phosphorus application rates （F₀： 0 kg·ha^-1； F₁： 75 kg·ha^-1； F₂： 150 kg·ha^-1； F₃： 225 kg·ha^-1）. The grassland productivity， yield stability， sustainability and soil nutrients were studied. The results showed that reseeding and phosphorus application significantly promoted the plant height and density of forage. In 2018， the hay yield was highest in the R₃F₃ treatment， at 9.3 t·ha^-1. In 2019-2020， the hay yield and crude protein yield of total hay were highest in the R₂F₂ treatment （11.1、11.4 t·ha^-1和2.4、2.2 t·ha^-1， respectively）， and these values were， respectively， 60.4%， 51.8% and 62.5%， 59.1% higher than those of F₀R₁. The coefficients orizons of variation of this treatment were 50.0% and 40.2% lower than those of F₀R₁， respectively， and the yield sustainability index was increased by 4.7% and 7.7%， respectively. The soil physical and chemical properties of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm horizons were affected by reseeding and phosphorus application. Soil organic matter， total nitrogen content and soil bulk density increased initially and then decreased with increased reseeding and fertilizer application rates. By contrast， the pattern of change in soil porosity with reseeding rate was the opposite， and these properties increased with increased phosphorus application rate. In summary， the reseeding rate of 40.4 kg·ha^-1 and phosphorus application rate of 150 kg·ha^-1 were the best treatments for improving grassland productivity， increasing grassland vegetation cover， sustainability of grassland production and improving the soil environment in degraded alfalfa grassland in the rain-fed area of the Loess Plateau.

Key words: degraded alfalfa grassland, reseeding, phosphorus application, productivity, yield stability, soil physicochemical properties

Jiang-ping MA, Li-juan CAO, Wen-wen ZHANG, Meng-yu ZHAO, Teng-fei WANG, Yi-yin ZHANG, Bin WANG, Jia-wang LI, Xiao-bing WANG, Jian LAN. Effects of reseeding and phosphorus application on productivity and soil in improvement of degraded alfalfa stands[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2026, 35(7): 92-104.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Precipitation and temperature in different months of the pilot area

Fig.2 Effect of reseeding-phosphorus application on plant height of forage

Fig.3 Effect of reseeding-phosphorus application on forage density

Fig.4 Effects of reseeding-phosphorus application on grassland productivity and total hay crude protein yield

Fig.5 Effects of reseeding-phosphorus application on yield stability and sustainability

Table 1 Analysis of variance for forage growth and development， yield， and yield stability and sustainability

因素Factor	H_A	H_F	D_A	D_F	DM_A	DM_F	CPY	CV_DM	CV_CPY	SYI_DM	SYI_CPY
年份Year	**	***	***	***	***	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns
施磷量Phosphorus application	***	***	***	***	***	***	***	*	**	*	**
补播量Reseeding rate	***	**	***	***	***	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns
年份×施磷量Year×phosphorus application	**	**	*	ns	***	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns
年份×补播量Year×reseeding rate	***	ns	*	ns	***	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns
施磷量×补播量Phosphorus application×reseeding rate	***	ns	***	***	**	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns
年份×施磷量×补播量Year×phosphorus application×reseeding rate	*	ns	***	ns	***	***	***	ns	ns	ns	ns

Fig.6 Effects of reseeding-phosphorus application on soil physical and chemical properties

Fig.7 The relationship between hay yield and crude protein yield of total hay and phosphorus application rate and reseeding rate

Fig.8 Structural equation model

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