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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (9): 180-197.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025377

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Effects of grass-legume sowing ratio and nitrogen application mode on yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency of alfalfa-Bromus inermis mixed stands on the Loess Plateau

Hui-ting LI1,2(), Zhong-li LI1,2, Qing-ming SHUI3, Cong-ze JIANG1,2, Kai-quan WEI1,2, Xian-long YANG1,2()   

  1. 1.College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730020,China
    2.State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730020,China
    3.Academy of Agricultural Science in Dingxi,Dingxi 744300,China
  • Received:2025-09-16 Revised:2025-11-12 Online:2026-09-20 Published:2026-07-27
  • Contact: Xian-long YANG

Abstract:

To determine the ideal mixed sowing ratio and nitrogen application mode for alfalfa (Medicago sativa)-Bromus inermis stands in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in central Gansu, alfalfa monoculture (A10S0) and B. inermis monoculture (A0S10) plots were used as the control, and three mixed sowing ratios of 3∶7 (A3S7), 5∶5 (A5S5), and 7∶3 (A7S3) were set up. Four nitrogen application modes were also set up under each mixed sowing ratio: no nitrogen fertilizer (U0), standard urea nitrogen application of 100 kg N·ha-1 (U100), standard urea nitrogen application of 50 kg N·ha-1+organic fertilizer 3.75 t·ha-1 (U50+OF), and slow-release urea nitrogen application of 50 kg N·ha-1 (CU50). The yield, water and nitrogen utilization and interspecific competition of the mixed stands in the second year of planting were observed and analyzed. It was found that compared with the two monocultures, mixed sowing had several yield advantages. The hay yields of A3S7, A5S5 and A7S3 were, respectively, 44.2%, 35.4% and 43.8% higher (P<0.05) than that of A0S10. A3S7 and A7S3 were, respectively, 19.4% and 19.0% higher (P<0.05) than that of A10S0. The crude protein yields of A3S7, A5S5, A7S3 and A10S0 were, respectively, 69.1%, 54.6%, 68.9% and 56.8% higher (P<0.05) than that of A0S10. The dry matter water use efficiency and nitrogen partial factor productivity of mixed sowing treatments were significantly higher than those of monocultures. The dry matter water use efficiency of A3S7, A5S5 and A7S3 was, respectively, 58.3%, 44.9% and 55.5% higher (P<0.05) than that of A0S10. The partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer in CU50 was significantly increased (P<0.05) by 86.6% and 97.8%, respectively, compared with U100 and U50+OF. The land equivalent ratio, alfalfa competition rate, alfalfa relative yield and total relative yield of each mixed sowing treatment were all greater than 1. The alfalfa competition rate and relative yield of U100 were significantly higher than those of A0S10 treatment. The land equivalent ratio and total relative yield of U100 were significantly higher than those of U0 and CU50. Multi-trait radar map result analysis showed that the overall performance of the A7S3-U100 treatment performed best in this experiment, and was therefore the recommended planting regime in the Longzhong semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in central Gansu. This study systematically explored the production of different legume-grass mixed sowing ratios and nitrogen application modes, thereby providing technical support for efficient forage cultivation in this region.

Key words: the Loess Plateau, legume-grass mixtures, nitrogen application mode, yield, water and nitrogen utilization, interspecific competition