Study On Alfalfa Production Performance Of Different Ecology Regions In Henan Province

Alfalfa plays an important role in husbandry development and adjustment of agricultural structure, which is a major forage crop with well-behaving characteristics, high yield and good quality in the world. In order to study the growth law cf alfalfa, and choose suitable varieties with high yield and good quality for cultivation, 16 alfalfa varieties, including Algonguin, Vernal, WL-323, Farmers' Treasure, Golden Empress, Grandeur, Emperor, Affinity, Phabulous, WL-323HQ, Apex, Sitel, Archer, Hunterriver, Siriver were planted in September of 2003 in six ecology regions of Henan province, China, including Zhengzhoua, Xuchang, Anyang, Sanmenxia, Shangqiu, Xinxiang, in 2004, 2005 and 2006 using a randomized block design with three replications. Each plot was cut four times except for Zhengzhou region cut five times each year over the 3-year period to evaluate production performance of the tested varieties. The research results provided background and basis for application of introduced varieties in Henan Tegion. Major results were as follows:(1) In Zhengzhou region, the DM yield of Hunterriver was the highest, and then the Archer, the third was WL-414. In Xuchang region, the top three of DM yield of alfalfa were WL-414, Apex and affinity, Anyang: Siriver, WL-414, Algonguin, Sanmenxia: WL-414, Algonguin, WL-323HQ, Shangqiu: Siriver, Sitel, Phabulous, Xixiang: Siriver, Archer, Apex.(2)As alfalfa growth year increased, the DM yields raised. The third year had the highest yield among the three years for the sixteen varieties. The DM yields of the sixteen varieties of the six ecological regions in 2006 were higher than that of ones in 2005, and 2005 were higher than that of ones in 2004. The production performance of WL-414(21.52t/hm~2) was the best in the sixteen varieties, and then was the Siriver(21.01t/hm~2), which providing a scientific base for choosing varieties in cultivation. In order to increase DM yield, we should select WL-414 in the industrialization production of alfalfa in Henan region. There were differences among different varieties about DM yields because the high yield performance of alfalfa itself.(3)During the three growth years of alfalfa, in Zhengzhou region, alfalfa was cut five times each year, the other five ecological region were cut four times each year. Cutting times had significant effect on DM herbage yield, the yield of first cutting was the highest, then the second, the third, and the fourth, the fifth was the lowest, and DM yields of the first cutting were significantly higher than that of the other three or four cuttings. The DM yield was decreased to the lowest value in September among the four or five cuttings, in order to obtain higher alfalfa yield, we should focus on the management of the spring and autumn.(4) The plant height difference level among the three years was lower than that of different cutting time; the change of plant height of alfalfa of different cutting was similar to that of DM yield. In Henan region, the plant height of WL-414 was the highest, and then the Siriver, the third Hunterriver, the fourth Apex, the fifth WL-323HQ; Golden Empress, Farmers' Treasure and Vernal had the lowest height, and were significantly different from the top five alfalfa varieties(P <0.05).(5) In breeding and introducing new alfalfa varieties, DM yield and nutritional value could be predicted in the field by plant height and leaf stem ratio, since leaf stem ratio had very positive correlation with crude protein content (P<0.01) and negative correlation with crude fiber (P< 0.05), and plant height was significantly positively related with DM yield(P<0.05). We could predict yield and nutritional value by measuring plant height and leaf stem ratio in the field.(6) By analyzing the economic benefits of alfalfa, we can found that the economic benefits of alfalfa were significantly higher than thai of wheat and corn. WL-414 had the highest DM yield and economic benefits among the sixteen alfalfa varieties. In order to increase DM yield and economic benefits, we should select WL-414 in the industrialization production of alfalfa. If we want to obtain higher quality forage, WL-323HQ is the suitable varieties to be recommended for planting in Henan Province.