Effects of different fertilization and reseeding rates on the nutrient content of forage in a mountain meadow and its rumen fermentation parameters

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024174

Abstract

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fertilization and seeding rates on the nutrient content and rumen fermentation parameters of mixed vegetation in a degraded mountain meadow. Combinations of Elymus sibiricus， Agropyron cristatum， Elymus nutans， and Medicago sativa were sown at four seeding rates （0， 3.4， 4.6， and 5.7 kg·ha^-1） and grown with four different fertilization treatments （0， 3.6， 7.2， and 10.8 t·ha^-1）. The dry matter yields and nutrient contents of four different grassland seed mixtures （EEM： E. sibiricus+E. nutans+M. sativa； EAM： E. sibiricus+A. cristatum+M. sativa； AEM： A. cristatum+E. nutans+M. sativa； EAEM： E. sibiricus+A. cristatum+E. nutans+M. sativa） were measured and their rumen fermentation parameters were studied by in vitro fermentation. The main results were as follows： Compared with no fertilization， fertilization had significant effects on dry matter yield （DMY）， neutral detergent fiber （NDF）， acid detergent fiber （ADF） content， and the relative feed value （RFV） of each mixed sowing treatment （P<0.05）. Under the 4.6 kg·ha^-1 seeding rate， the DMY， NDF， and ADF contents and RFV value of EEM were significantly different from their corresponding values in the other seeding rate treatments （P<0.05）. The contents of ammonia nitrogen and propionate in rumen fluid of EEM， EAM， and AEM sown with a seeding rate of 4.6 kg·ha^-1 were significantly different from their corresponding values in the other seeding rate treatments （P<0.05）. In a principal component analysis， EEM with a fertilization rate of 10.8 t·ha^-1and a seeding rate of 5.7 kg·ha^-1 had the highest comprehensive score. A response surface analysis showed that AEM had the highest predicted yield， followed by EEM， and EEM had the highest comprehensive score. Based on yield and the comprehensive score， E. sibiricus+E. nutans+M. sativa with a fertilization rate of 10.8 t·ha^-1and a seeding rate of 5.7 kg·ha^-1 was identified in this study as the best option for replanting degraded mountain meadows.

Key words: fertilizer application amount, sowing amount, forage quality, rumen fermentation parameters, principal component analysis （PCA）, response surface analysis （RSM）

Nan GUO, Wu-chen DU, Shou-kun JI, Jian LIU, Su-qian CUI, Hui YUAN, Xu HAN, Ji-shuang LIU, Li-jie GAO. Effects of different fertilization and reseeding rates on the nutrient content of forage in a mountain meadow and its rumen fermentation parameters[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(4): 150-163.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Effect of different fertilizer application and reseeding rate on dry matter yield and forage nutrient content

Fig.2 Effect of different fertilizer application and reseeding rate on rumen fermentation parameters of EEM mixed forage

Fig.3 Effect of different fertilizer application and reseeding rate on rumen fermentation parameters of EAM mixed forage

Fig.4 Effect of different fertilizer application and reseeding rate on rumen fermentation parameters of AEM mixed forage

Fig.5 Effect of different fertilizer application and reseeding rate on rumen fermentation parameters of forage mixed with EAEM

Table 1 Composite scores for different treatments

混播组合Mixed sowing combination	施肥量 Fertilizer application （t·hm^-2）	补播量 Reseeding rate （kg·hm^-2）				混播组合Mixed sowing combination	施肥量 Fertilizer application （t·hm^-2）	补播量 Reseeding rate （kg·hm^-2）
混播组合Mixed sowing combination	施肥量 Fertilizer application （t·hm^-2）	0	3.4	4.6	5.7	混播组合Mixed sowing combination	施肥量 Fertilizer application （t·hm^-2）	0	3.4	4.6	5.7
EEM	0	-5.32	-7.20	-1.94	-3.25	AEM	0	-5.32	-7.20	-1.94	-3.25
	3.6	-0.72	-1.89	1.06	0.39		3.6	-0.04	-1.72	1.74	1.17
	7.2	-0.37	-1.48	1.52	1.13		7.2	0.58	-0.59	2.66	1.90
	10.8	0	3.40	4.60	5.70		10.8	0.33	-0.50	2.59	1.90
EAM	0	-5.32	-7.20	-1.94	-3.25	EAEM	0	-5.32	-7.20	-1.94	-3.25
	3.6	-1.80	-2.75	-0.12	-0.62		3.6	-1.43	-1.87	0.66	0.09
	7.2	-1.36	-2.68	0.87	0.19		7.2	-0.85	-1.48	1.57	1.02
	10.8	-1.42	-1.91	0.60	-0.15		10.8	-1.07	-1.71	1.52	1.53

Fig.6 Effect of fertilizer application and reseeding rate on the comprehensive evaluation

Fig.7 Effect of fertilizer application and reseeding rate on dry matter yield

Fig.8 Optimal predicted yield and comprehensive score of each mixed sowing combination

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