Mixture of Alfalfa, Orchardgrass, and Tall Fescue Produces Greater Biomass Yield in Southwest China

Abstract

The current study investigated the influence of mixture composition on the biomass yield and early establishment of legume–grass mixtures. The legume species alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. (A)), white clover (Trifolium repens L. (WC)), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L. (RC)) and grass species orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. (O)), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (TF)), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. (PR)) were grown in monocultures and in different legume–grass mixtures. Legume–grass mixtures (M1: WC + O + TF; M2: A + O + TF; M3: A + WC + O + TF; M4: RC + WC + O + TF; M5: A + WC + O + TF + PR; M6: RC + WC + O + TF + PR; and M7: A + RC + WC + O + TF + PR) were sown in a legume–grass seeding ratio of 3:7. The results showed that M2 had the greatest two-year average biomass yield (12.92 t ha−1), which was significantly (p < 0.05), 4.7%, 5.4%, 15.8%, and 29.1% greater than that of WC monoculture, M7, M4, and M1, respectively. The grass biomass yield proportions of all mixtures significantly decreased, while legume biomass yield proportions significantly increased in the second year compared to the first year of establishment. The land-equivalent ratio values of M2 and M4 were greater than 1 in each cutting period. The competition rate of grasses gradually decreased with prolonged establishment time. Overall, the biomass yield, legume and grass biomass yield proportions, land equivalent ratio, and competition rate data highlighted that M2 is the best choice to achieve greater productivity and early establishment in southwest China.

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

“…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 ).…”

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

“…The SON is utilized by soil microorganisms, increasing soil fertility, promoting plant uptake, and increasing aboveground biomass. However, the nitrogen fraction content of the topsoil decreased with the soil depth, and stratification occurred, probably due to long-term soil tillage and the spatial distribution of the crop root system ( Gwenzi et al., 2009 ; Liu et al., 2022 )…”

“…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.…”

The Responses of Stem and Leaf Functional Traits of Medicago sativa and Bromus inermis to Different Mixed Planting Patterns

“…Selecting suitable legumes and grass forages to establish a high-yielding mixed grass system is an important way of solving the current grass-livestock imbalance since mixing perennial grass with legume forage improves the grass production and protein content per unit area [1][2][3][4]. It also increases the nitrogen nutrient and organic matter content in the soil [5][6][7]; improves soil fertility [8]; and reduces the application of industrial nitrogen fertilizer, production costs, and environmental pollution [9,10].…”