Abstract:

To screen high-quality alfalfa varieties suitable for the climatic conditions of Tumushuke, this study used eight introduced alfalfa varieties, including 'WL366' and 'Zhongmu No.1', as experimental materials. A plot cultivation experiment was conducted to collect and analyze nine indicators of the eight varieties, including plant height and fresh stem-leaf ratio. The results showed that the highest annual fresh forage yield was observed in 'Zhongmu No.1' (19017.99 kg/hm²), while the highest annual dry forage yield was achieved by 'Gongnong No.1' (6248.55 kg/hm²). 'Zhonglan No.2' exhibited the lowest fresh stem-leaf ratio (0.94) and dry stem-leaf ratio (0.91), indicating a high leaf content and good palatability. The protein content ranged from 20.05% to 21.66%. Based on comprehensive evaluation scores, the best-performing variety was 'WL366', followed by 'Gongnong No.1' and 'Dayinhe'. Correlation analysis revealed that plant height, growth rate, and daily growth are key factors influencing dry forage yield, higher values of these indicators lead to greater dry forage production. Additionally, the fresh stem-leaf ratio shows a positive correlation with fresh forage yield, meaning a higher ratio results in the increase of fresh forage production. Furthermore, a smaller stem-leaf ratio indicates a higher leaf proportion and greater protein content.

Key words: alfalfa, variety comparison test, introduction of varieties, forage yield, crude protein content, Tumushuke