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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (10): 187-199.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2021048

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An evaluation of drought resistance of five forage legumes based on a quantile model

Zhan-jun WANG(), Bo JI, Tong JI, Qi JIANG()   

  1. Institute of Forestry and Grassland Ecology,Ningxia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Desertification Control and Soil and Water Conservation,Yinchuan 750002,China
  • Received:2021-02-02 Revised:2021-04-07 Online:2023-10-20 Published:2023-07-26
  • Contact: Qi JIANG

Abstract:

This research systematically analyzed the suitable water conditions for forage growth in order to screen high-quality drought resistant forages for arid areas. Five perennial leguminous forages (Astragalus melilotoidesLespedeza potaniniiLespedeza davuricaCoronilla varia, and Astragalus cicer) were studied, and agronomic traits (number of green leaves and plant height) were systematically analyzed. The trade-off relationship between plant growth and soil moisture supply, using the RMSD (root mean square distance) for plant size and soil moisture content as quantile model variables to determine the soil moisture threshold needed to maintain normal growth of plants, while recording a multivariate score of physiological indicators under drought stress. This drought resistance evaluation showed that: 1) The higher the drought stress, the greater the negative impact on the chlorophyll and plant height of the forage; However, a moderate drought can promote the growth and development of the forage. 2) With respect to the tolerance of different forages to drought stress, differences were found in the degree and scope of exposure, with the soil moisture thresholds of plant green leaves number for A. melilotoidesL. potaninii and A. cicer being 17%, 10% and 5%, respectively, while the soil moisture thresholds of plant height are A. melilotoides, 16%; L. potaninii, 14% and A. cicer 10% and quantile models for other variables failed the significance test. 3) From the evaluation and analysis of seven physiological indicators, the drought resistance of the five leguminous forage species was ranked: L. potaninii>L. davurica>C. varia>A. cicer>A. melilotoides. 4) Based on the combination of soil water content threshold and drought physiological evaluation, the selection of L. potaninii for severe drought can be used as the selective pasture for severe drought, and L. potaninii for moderate drought can be used as the selective pasture for moderate drought.

Key words: legume forages, drought stress, water threshold, integrated evaluation