Mixture Composition Influenced the Biomass Yield and Nutritional Quality of Legume–Grass Pastures

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted to address the effects of mixture composition and legume-grass seeding ratio on the biomass yield and nutritional quality of legume–grass mixtures. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were selected as plant materials. A total of seven legume–grass mixtures (A1: white clover, orchardgrass, and tall fescue; A2: alfalfa, orchardgrass, and tall fescue; B1: alfalfa, white clover, orchardgrass, and tall fescue; B2: red clover, white clover, orchardgrass, and tall fescue; C1: alfalfa, white clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass; C2: red clover, white clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass; and D: alfalfa, red clover, white clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass) were sown in two legume-grass seeding ratios (L:G) of 4:6 and 5:5. The results showed that A2 produced a higher two-year average biomass yield (14.20 t/ha) in L:G of 4:6 than that of other mixtures. The grasses biomass yield proportion decreased while legume biomass yield proportion increased with prolonged establishment time. A2 showed a higher crude protein yield (2.5 t/ha) in L:G of 4:6. C2 and A1 showed lower neutral detergent fiber (4.6 t/ha) and acid detergent fiber (2.8 t/ha) yields in L:G 5:5, while diverse mixtures showed higher water-soluble carbohydrate yields. Overall, A2 showed a relative feed value of 146.50 in L:G of 4:6, indicating that it has not only produced the higher biomass yield but also had a better nutritional quality.

Mixed legume–grass seeding and nitrogen fertilizer input enhance forage yield and nutritional quality by improving the soil enzyme activities in Sichuan, China

“…This result is consistent with the urease enzyme activity which played a crucial role to enhance the available nutrients for plant uptake—a strong positive correlation was found between forage yield and urease enzyme activity in this study. Moreover, the inclusion of legume in the mixture supplies more N to grasses by their N fixing ability, ultimately leading to the better growth and development of grasses ( Tahir et al., 2022 ). In addition, the forage yield of mixtures increased up to a certain level with an increase in the rate of N input (especially up to the N2 threshold level), suggesting that higher N input rates are not beneficial and N can be lost to the environment.…”

“…Different planting patterns influence the forage yield and nutritional quality in grassland cultivation ( Tahir et al., 2022 ). The nutritional quality of forage can not only directly affect the growth, reproduction, forage–herbivore interaction, and foraging behavior of livestock and wild herbivores by affecting the difficulty in obtaining nutrients but can also indirectly affect the yield, quality, and economic benefits of livestock products ( Cui et al., 2016 ).…”

“…Forage grass cultivation, a pivotal ring of the feed production industry, has obvious seasonal and regional characteristics all year around ( Garcez Neto et al., 2021 ). The natural grasslands are the primary source of forage, but cultivating legume–grass mixtures other than their respective monocultures is more beneficial because they provide higher biomass production and balanced feed for livestock ( Liu et al., 2022 ; Tahir et al., 2022 ). Meanwhile, these legume–grass mixtures could face significant challenges due to lack of soil fertility, fierce competition, and scarcity of suitable species ( Liu et al., 2022 ).…”

Effects of fertilization on the composition of bacterial populations in the rhizosphere soil of Legume-Gramineae mixtures in the Hexi Corridor region

“…Arti cial grasslands have been identi ed as a potent approach for boosting grass production and quality, emerging as a noteworthy source of high-quality forage grasses (Chen et al 2021). In comparison to monoculture grassland, mixed grassland planting offered the bene ts of high grass yield and superior quality (Liu et al 2021; Tahir et al 2022), while also enhancing soil quality, and fertility (Liu et al 2023; Coêlho et al 2019), and resource utilization e ciency (Liu et al 2022b). Furthermore, Li (Li et al 2009) stated that mixing leguminous and gramineous plants in intensive farming systems signi cantly reduced the inhibitory effects of nitrogen fertilization on nodulation and nitrogen xation.…”

Legume-grass mixtures increase forage yield by improving soil quality in different ecological regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

“…Legume–grass mixtures are planted to increase forage biomass ( Tilman et al., 2002 ), nutritional quality, resource utilization, productivity ( Loreau and Hector, 2001 ; Loreau et al., 2001 ) and soil fertility to reduce pollution of grassland agro-ecosystems by inorganic fertilizers ( Heijden and Horton, 2009 ; Frankow-Lindberg and Dahlin, 2013 ). Meanwhile, which can balanced feed for livestock and sustain the soil nutrient balance with minimal environmental impact ( Liu et al., 2022 ; Tahir et al., 2022 ). Additionally, mixtures of two to four species may provide optimum plant diversity and limit seedling competition compared to more complex mixtures ( Foster et al., 2014 ).Mixed grasslands improve N mineralization and utilization by influencing the soil carbon/nitrogen balance.…”