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Root, Yield, and Quality of Alfalfa Affected by Soil Salinity in Northwest China

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  • Yuan Qiu

    (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua East Rd., Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

  • Yamin Wang

    (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua East Rd., Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

  • Yaqiong Fan

    (College of Water Resources Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China)

  • Xinmei Hao

    (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua East Rd., Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

  • Sien Li

    (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua East Rd., Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

  • Shaozhong Kang

    (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua East Rd., Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

Abstract

Growing crops in salt-affected soils has become increasingly important for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions. Knowledge on the responses of alfalfa root development, yield, and quality to soil salinity is critical for assessing the productivity and profitability of salt-affected soils. A field experiment with a total of six treatments combining three soil salinity levels and two biosolids fertilizer levels was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in northwest China. For salinity treatments, the salt addition rates were 2‰, 4‰, and 6‰ of 0–60 cm soil dry weight, while a commercial biosolids fertilizer was added at a rate of 0 and 1.5 Mg·ha −1 of 0–10 cm soil for biosolids treatment. Root parameters of root length (RL), surface area (RSA), diameter (RD), volume (RV), and dry matter (RDM) were obtained at the end of each year, while yield and quality parameters of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were measured for each cut of the two years. Most root parameters were significantly reduced by the highest soil salinity treatment in 2018, but not affected by salinity in 2019. Higher salinity treatments consistently led to lower plant height and yield, higher CP, and lower ADF and NDF in both years. The absolute slope value of the regression between yield of each cut with the respective soil salt content was smaller for the later cuts. The relationship between plant height and quality parameters varied depending on soil salinity levels and between the two years, and plant height was found to be a good predictor for alfalfa quality in 2019. Biosolids fertilizer had no significant effect on any alfalfa root, growth, or quality parameters. The results are expected to assist determining the proper soil salinity range, maximizing the productivity that takes both yield and quality into consideration.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan Qiu & Yamin Wang & Yaqiong Fan & Xinmei Hao & Sien Li & Shaozhong Kang, 2023. "Root, Yield, and Quality of Alfalfa Affected by Soil Salinity in Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:750-:d:1105667
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Qadir & E. Quillérou & V. Nangia & G. Murtaza & M. Singh & R.J. Thomas & P. Drechsel & A.D. Noble, 2014. "Economics of salt‐induced land degradation and restoration," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 0(4), pages 282-295, November.
    2. Jorge F. S. Ferreira & Monica V. Cornacchione & Xuan Liu & Donald L. Suarez, 2015. "Nutrient Composition, Forage Parameters, and Antioxidant Capacity of Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa , L.) in Response to Saline Irrigation Water," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-21, July.
    3. M. Qadir & E. Quillérou & V. Nangia & G. Murtaza & M. Singh & R.J. Thomas & P. Drechsel & A.D. Noble, 2014. "Economics of salt‐induced land degradation and restoration," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 0(4), pages 282-295, November.
    4. Wang, Yadong & Liu, Chun & Cui, Pengfei & Su, Derong, 2021. "Effects of partial root-zone drying on alfalfa growth, yield and quality under subsurface drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    5. M. Qadir & E. Quillérou & V. Nangia & G. Murtaza & M. Singh & R.J. Thomas & P. Drechsel & A.D. Noble, 2014. "Economics of salt‐induced land degradation and restoration," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 38(4), pages 282-295, November.
    6. Hu, Yanzhe & Kang, Shaozhong & Ding, Risheng & Zhao, Qing, 2021. "A crude protein and fiber model of alfalfa incorporating growth age under water and salt stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    7. Qiu, Yuan & Fan, Yaqiong & Chen, Yang & Hao, Xinmei & Li, Sien & Kang, Shaozhong, 2021. "Response of dry matter and water use efficiency of alfalfa to water and salinity stress in arid and semiarid regions of Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Wenju Zhao & Fangfang Ma & Haiying Yu & Zhaozhao Li, 2023. "Inversion Model of Salt Content in Alfalfa-Covered Soil Based on a Combination of UAV Spectral and Texture Information," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, August.

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