The yield and quality of alfalfa in China are much lower than those in developed countries, such as the USA ( Wang, 2017 Wang and Zou, 2020). In recent years, alfalfa production in China cannot meet demands of the increasing animal husbandry both in yield and quality ( Raiesi, 2007 Su, 2007 Zhang et al., 2009).Ĭhina’s alfalfa import increases gradually, reaching 49% of the total demand in 2015 ( National Livestock stations, 2016). This study is helpful for optimizing fertilization schedules of alfalfa in China.Īlfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), as a high-quality forage legume, has been cultivated on more than 4×10 5 ha in China since 2016 ( Guo et al., 2018). In conclusion, fertilizer application is an effective strategy to improve the yield and quality of alfalfa in China, especially that grown in low SOM soils. Meta-analysis further showed that the effect of fertilizer application on yield was greater in low soil organic matter (SOM) soils than in high SOM soils. Considering both yield and quality, the optimal rate of fertilizer application ranged from 30 to 60 kg ha -1 for N, 120 to 150 kg ha -1 for P and less than 120 kg ha -1 for K. The combined nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and combined NP fertilizer applications achieved the greatest yield and CP concentration increases of 27.0% and 13.5%, respectively. Results and Discussion: The results showed that fertilizer application not only increased alfalfa yield by 19.2% but also improved alfalfa quality by increasing crude protein (CP) by 7.7% and decreasing acid detergent fibre by 2.9% and neutral detergent fibre by 1.8% overall compared to the non-fertilizer control levels. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the contribution of fertilizer application to the yield and quality of alfalfa based on a dataset from 86 studies published between 20. However, there is no understanding on the impact of fertilizer application on alfalfa production and the possible optimal application rates across China. It is necessary to apply fertilizers to achieve high yields and produce high-quality alfalfa in China. ![]() Alfalfa production cannot meet demands both in yield and quality. Introduction: In China, alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) often grows in marginal land with poor soil fertility and suboptimal climate conditions. ![]()
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