Evaluation of agro-biological traits of Medicago sativa and M. varia in a Cambisol and Retisol

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago spp.) plays an important role in a farming system and contributes to stabilization of the ecosystem by improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. However, the use of alfalfa is limited due to its susceptibility to edaphic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agro-biological traits of alfalfa under different soil conditions. Field experiments were carried out in two locations with optimised management. Agro-biological traits of 46 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. and M. varia Marth.) accessions of different geographic origin were assessed in a high productivity Endocalcari Epigleyic Cambisol. Although environmental conditions were favourable for alfalfa development and growth, the tested genotypes significantly differed in agro-biological traits: plant height of regrowth in spring and after cuts and at flowering period as well as seed yield. Cultivars from colder climate countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were the least affected by the downy mildew. In a low productivity acidic Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol, the pH had a major influence on the distribution of the root system of alfalfa-grass mixture. During the first experimental year, in the naturally highly acidic soil (pH 3.9), where the mineral nutrition was unfavourable, alfalfa produced longer roots, their diameter and mass were larger than in the soil with a pH of 5.0. In the third year of cultivation, in the naturally highly acidic soil only 9.1% of alfalfa plants had survived. A strong correlation (r = 0.873, P < 0.01) was determined between the amount of alfalfa in the dry matter yield and soil acidity.

Manifestation of Valuable Selective Traits in Alfalfa Collection Samples

“…In addition, alfalfa plays an important role in the farming system and contributes to the stabilization of the ecosystem by improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. However, the use of alfalfa is limited due to its susceptibility to soil conditions (Liatukiene et al, 2020). The numerous studies by Mosolova et al (2019), Chernyavskikh et al (2019b) and Solozhentseva (2021) contain the experiments of long-term observations (photo monitoring) of the development of fungal diseases affecting alfalfa and several complex diseases commonly called leaf spot and experiments on the evaluation of aerobiological properties of alfalfa in different soil conditions.…”

Genetic Diversity of Perennial Wild Species of Alfalfa Subgenus Falcago (Reichb) Grossh. in Kazakhstan and Their Involvement in the Breeding

“…The problems of studying the wild species and their use in breeding are closely related to alfalfa adaptation to global climate change. Aridization of the climate stands out in this problem; therefore, alfalfa breeding for drought resistance is considered to be a priority (Humphries et al, 2021;Liatukiene, Skuodiene, Tomchuk, & Danyte, 2020;Shi, Nan, & Smith, 2017). The sources and donors for this trait are its wild relatives that grow in the natural flora of Kazakhstan.…”