Mixed Sowing Research Articles

Silage Yield and Quality of Forage Peas and Hungarian Vetch and Triticale Binary Mixtures

This study was conducted in order to determine silage quality in binary mixtures of forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L. "FP") and Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica C. "HV") and triticale (X triticosecale Wittmack. "T") in 2021-2022 vegetation period. Hungarian vetch and forage pea and triticale seeds were sown in 6 different mixture ratios (legume/triticale; 100%/0, 80/20%, 60/40%, 40/60%, 20/80%). The experiment was established according to randomized blocks experimental design with 3 replications. In the study, dry matter content, pH, flieg score, quality class, crude protein, ADF, NDF, Ca, K, Mg, P, lactic acid and acetic acid contents were analyzed for silage yield and quality. The dry matter of silages was between 23.83 and 36.49%, while the pH was between 4.57 and 5.18. The highest crude protein was determined in pure forage peas (22%) and it was determined that it increased in parallel with the increase in the legume ratio in the mixture. Mineral contents were found to be high in sole and intense legume silages, similar to crude protein. In terms of silage quality in the examined parameters, mixed sowing gave better results than sole sowing. As a result of the study, 80:20 T/HV mixture ratio sowing is recommended for Yozgat and regions with similar ecology in terms of silage yield and quality.

Effects of High-Density Mixed Planting in Artificial Grassland on Microbial Community

The construction level of artificial grassland is an important index of the development degree of grassland animal husbandry. Therefore, improving the productivity level of artificial grassland and promoting the sustainable utilization of artificial grassland have become important tasks that need to be urgently addressed. There have been numerous studies on the effects of monoculture on the soil microbial community structure in artificial grassland, but there is limited research on the effects of mixed sowing on the soil microbial community structure and the related patterns. In this study, Elymus nutans (En), Festuca sinensis (Fs), Avena sativa (As), and Poa pratensis (Pp) were used as common herbage materials in an alpine grassland pastoral area of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Multi-density monoculture and mixed seeding were employed to establish artificial grassland communities with varying structures. By comparing the soil microbial community structure of the differently treated artificial planting grass, degraded grassland with bald spots, and natural grassland, it was confirmed that plant community diversity significantly influences the microbial community structure. The high-density planting treatment of multiple forage grasses had a more pronounced impact on the soil microbial community structure compared to that of the high-density planting treatment of a single variety of forage grass. The soil microbial community diversity index of the four mixed-planting treatments was higher than those of the other artificial grassland treatments and the natural grassland treatments, and the soil microbial community structure was most similar to that of the natural grassland. Avena sativa planting increased the abundance of Actinobacteria and Basidiomycota and decreased the number of Acidobacteria by increasing the soil pH value. The AFP (As+Fs+Pp) treatment reduced the proportion of Mortierellomycota in the soil by decreasing the content of available phosphorus. The AEFP (As+En+Fs+Pp) treatment increased the number of Proteobacteria by raising the soil total phosphorus content and reduced the abundance of Acidobacteria by lowering the soil pH value. Additionally, a machine learning method was used to evaluate the comprehensive performance of 21 artificial grassland treatments on nine soil physical and chemical properties. It was found that the AEFP mixed-planting and high-density planting treatments had the greatest improvement effect on the nine soil physical and chemical properties, which was conducive to sustainable land use.

Effect of Agroforestry Systems on Soil NPK and C Improvements in Karst Graben Basin of Southwest China

Agroforestry systems can fully exploit the ecological benefits of an ecosystem’s component plants, and improve the ecological environment, soil quality, and land use efficiency, all of which have recently attracted the attention of many scholars. Southwest China’s karst graben basins have barren soil that needs immediate improvement. The karst graben basin in southwest China was used for this study to examine the impacts of several forest–grass composite systems of Bingtang orange–alfalfa–ryegrass on soil improvement, which is located in Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The experiment had four treatments, Bingtang orange–alfalfa sowing (B2), Bingtang orange–ryegrass × alfalfa mixed sowing (A), Bingtang orange–ryegrass × alfalfa intercropping (R), and Bingtang orange monocropping (CK). The results showed that different forest–grass composite patterns had noticeable effects on improving the soil’s organic carbon (SOC), total nutrients, and available nutrients, especially in the rainy season when plants grew vigorously. Forage grass intercropping under forest exerted the best effect on soil improvement in the surface layer, and the effect decreased with the increase in soil depth. Alfalfa intercropping under Bingtang orange forest had the strongest effect on improving SOC, total N, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen, whose content increased by 30.7%, 27.3%, 35%, and 36.3%, respectively, in the dry season and 38%, 46.7%, 48.7%, and 55.3%, in the rainy season. However, the effect of alfalfa–ryegrass intercropping under the Bingtang orange forest on soil total P, total K, and available P was better than that of the Bingtang orange–alfalfa intercropping system. The C:N ratio is more suitable in the Bingtang orange–ryegrass-alfalfa composite system. Forage grass intercropping under the Bingtang orange forest effectively improved the soil NPK and C status, and the results of this study provided a basis for the selection of forest–grass composite patterns for soil improvement.

Effect of red clover undersowing on foliage, leaf gas exchange, and yield of spring wheat

The use of undersown plants, thanks to their favourable effect on multiple environmental characteristics, is an environmentally-friendly crop cultivation method. A valuable undersown crop is red clover, which is often grown with spring cereals. The aim of the study was to investigate the following issues: how will the cultivation of the spring wheat with undersown red clover (called intercropping) or growing spring wheat in a mixture with red clover affect the leaf gas exchange in this cereal? Will the process be modified by plant densities? Will the cultivation of the spring wheat mixture change the foliage characteristics and the wheat yield? The following parameters were studied: stomatal conductance, intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, assimilation rate, transpiration rate, limitation value, photosynthetic water use efficiency, leaf area, leaf area index, leaf mass per area, chlorophyll content, N<sub>area</sub>, P<sub>area</sub>, leaf temperature, and grain yield. It was demonstrated that the mixed sowing variant reduced the photosynthesis parameters in the leaves of wheat. In this species, a significant reduction in the stomatal conductance, intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, net assimilation rate, and transpiration rate and an increase in the limitation value and water use efficiency were noted. The wheat leaves were characterised by a higher temperature in the object with the mixed sowing variant. The wheat grain yield in the mixture was 12.6-17.5% lower than in the sole crop.

Mixed sowing improves plant and soil bacterial community restoration in the degraded alpine meadow

Mixed sowing improves plant and soil bacterial community restoration in the degraded alpine meadow

Enhancing the component intra- and interrelationship of Elymus nutans mono- and mixed sowing communities via adjusting sowing patterns in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau

Spatial arrangement is a key factor in maintaining community yield and stability via regulating component intra-/interspecific competition in an alpine climate environment. A 2-yr field trial was conducted on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, including cross row (S_C), double row (S_D), single row (S_R), broadcast (M_B), dependent row (M_D) and independent row (M_I). Our results showed that S_C could avoid intraspecific competition by reasonable spatial arrangement, which favored the dominant component growth (1st year: leaf; 2nd year: stem and reproductive organ). For mixed communities, RII (relative interaction intensity) implied that interspecific competition also embodied on dominant component, and higher Elymus nutans component advantages seriously limited Onobrychis viciifolia's components growth in the 2nd year. More details displayed that E. nutans in M_B or M_D produced the maximum system yield via increasing leaf investment at the initial stages and stem investment after July 2019. Besides, M_I possessed lower component numbers than M_B and M_D in the unit area. PCA analysis revealed that component numbers or biomasses changed synchronously, besides the E. nutans of S_C, M_B, and M_D presented significant discrepancies compared to other treatments in September 2019, which verified the effect of sowing patterns on component growth (P < 0.05), but O. viciifolia in different sowing patterns was similar in the 2nd year. Considering the adaptability and production for the environment of the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, S_C is recommended for the promoted effect on component biomasses. M_B and M_D, with the merit of spacing utilization as well as higher resistance to variation in seasonal growth conditions via optimizing interspecific relationships for mixed communities, are adapted for increasing yield via component harvesting. Our results unveiled the potential of optimizing spatial usage efficiency via controlling component growth characteristics and stressed the importance of dynamic change of dominant components to enhance forage system production in alpine regions.

Effects of Two Sowing Methods on the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Hybrid Rice under Mechanical Transplantation

Poor adaptability of hybrid-rice (Oryza sativa L.) mechanical transplanting is one of the main factors limiting hybrid-rice production. Mixed sowing ensured stronger seedlings and better mechanical transplanting quality than conventional sowing in mechanical transplanting hybrid rice. Field experiments were conducted to identify the effects of mixed and conventional sowing of hybrid rice on rice growth, yield, and quality under mechanical transplantation in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China in 2021 and 2022. Two hybrid-rice varieties, japonica rice Changyou 4 and indica rice Yuanliangyou, and two conventional rice varieties, japonica rice Nanjing 5055 and indica rice Yangdao 6 were included in this study. Both japonica and indica rice showed the following results. There were no significant differences in biomass and leaf-area index of rice under different sowing methods at the heading and maturity stages. The basic seedling and spike rate was 38.27% and 16.24% higher, respectively, in mixed sowing than those averages in conventional sowing. In addition, the spikelets per panicle of hybrid rice in mixed sowing was 10.88% greater than the average in conventional sowing, indicating better heterosis. Compared to conventional sowing, mixed sowing increased the average gel consistency and taste value by 15.86% and 28.21%, respectively, while chalkiness degree, amylose content, and protein content decreased by an average of 60.47%, 44.89%, and 36.63%, respectively. Our study showed that similar biomass and leaf-area index, large basal seedling and spike rate, and large spikelets per panicle of hybrid rice are the keys to ensuring high yield in mixed sowing. At the same time, mixed sowing improved the appearance, nutrition, and cooking/eating qualities of the rice.

Mixed sowing of Feed rape and Vicia villosa can substitute nitrogen fertilizer to improve soil multifunctionality in the Hetao irrigation District

Soil multifunctionality (SMF) and crop production of continuous green manure returning is crucial for sustainable agricultural development. Multiple cropping of green manure after wheat harvest is a typical planting pattern in the Hetao Irrigation District, and maybe substitute nitrogen (N) fertilizer. However, information is scarce about how the green manure affected SMF and crop production under limited nitrogen inputs. A 7-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of green manure types (Feed rape (FR), Vicia villosa (VV), Feed rape, and Vicia villosa mixed sowing (FR + VV)) on soil properties, enzyme activities, SMF, and rotated wheat yield under different N application rates (150 kg N ha−1, N150; no nitrogen, N0). The results showed that FR and FR + VV increased soil active carbon (C) and N fractions by 4.0 %-499.3 % and 11.3 %-147.8 % compared to VV, respectively. Enzyme activities with FR + VV were significantly increased by 13.7 %-82.9 % compared to FR and VV. SMF and CCI (carbon cycling index) were significantly affected by N fertilizer and green manure types, with N0 higher than N150 by two times and FR + VV higher than FR by 1.4–4.3 times and VV by 1.0–6.6 times in 0–20 cm soil layer. Spring wheat yield was significantly affected by N fertilizer and green manure types, with N0 significantly higher than N150 by 5.8 % and FR and FR + VV higher than VV by 8.0 % and 12.5 % under N150, respectively. Partial least squares path model detected that returning of multiple green manure had a significant positive and indirect effect on SMF through enhancing soil enzyme activities, and ultimately contribute to the improvement in wheat yield. In conclusion, the mixed sowing of FR and VV increased soil active C and N fractions and associated enzyme activities, and has the potential to improve the SMF and rotated wheat yield, thereby providing an effective approach to reduce N fertilizer.

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

This study investigated the differences in stem and leaf growth characteristics of Medicago sativa and Bromus inermis in the Jiaozhou region of China during 2019–2020 under three different planting modes of the two forages: monoculture, mixed species sowing in the same rows, and mixed species sowing in alternating rows. No special management of the experimental plots was carried out in this study to simulate as much as possible the growth of forages in their natural state. The stem and leaf characteristics influencing the dry matter weight were calculated using grey correlation. These characteristics included leaf length, leaf width, leaf thickness, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, stem length, stem diameter, stem fresh weight, stem–leaf ratio, fresh matter yield, dry matter yield, and protein yield of M. sativa and B. inermis under different sowing methods in different years. The results showed that the weight pattern of the characteristics affecting the yield of M. sativa and B. inermis production was leaf area &gt; stem diameter &gt; leaf length &gt; stem length &gt; leaf width &gt; leaf thickness, leaf area &gt; leaf length &gt; stem length &gt; leaf width &gt; leaf thickness &gt; stem diameter. Considering all the growth factors, the production capacity was ranked as mixed sowing in alternating rows &gt; mixed sowing in same rows &gt; monoculture. Thus, the suitable mode for M. sativa–B. inermis sowing was mixed sowing in alternating rows.

Photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis and Medicago sativa in artificial grassland

To explore the effect of monoculture and mixture sowing artificial grassland on the photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis and Medicago sativa, we determined the diurnal variation of photosynthetic properties of L. chinensis and M. sativa under different treatments. The results showed that the diurnal changes of net photosynthetic rate, blade temperature and transpiration rate of L. chinensis and M. sativa showed 'unimodal type' in monoculture, the stomatal conductance of M. sativa showed 'unimodal type', and the stomatal conductance and water use efficiency of L. chinensis showed 'bimodal type'. Under the mixed sowing treatment, the diurnal changes of net photosynthetic rate, blade temperature and transpiration rate of L. chinensis and M. sativa showed 'unimodal type', the stomatal conductance and water use efficiency of L. chinensis showed 'unimodal type', and the stomatal conductance of M. sativa showed 'bimodal type'. The peak photosynthetic rate of L. chinensis under mixture was signi-ficantly higher than that under monoculture, being 17.72 and 13.65 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1, respectively. Under monoculture and mixture sowing treatments, the chlorophyll content of L. chinensis was higher than that of M. sativa, nitrogen content of the leaves of L. chinensis was lower than that of M. sativa, and the nitrogen content in the leaves of mixture sowing L. chinensis was significantly higher than that of monoculture sowing L. chinensis, which were 27.60 and 22.55 g·kg-1, respectively. Net photosynthetic rates of L. chinensis and M. sativa were significantly positively correlated with stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, and significantly negatively correlated with intercellular CO2 concentration under different planting methods. Net photosynthetic rate of M. sativa was significantly positively correlated with blade temperature and water use efficiency. In summary, mixed sowing was beneficial to enhance nitrogen content of L. chinensis. Our results provided a theoretical basis for the response of the photosynthetic characteristics of forage to planting mode of artificial grassland.

Adjusting spatial use to establish productive and stable Elymus nutans monocultures and mixed sowing systems

Community arrangement plays a critical role in maintaining forage community production and stability. To explore reasonable management for efficient community production in alpine regions, three monoculture communities composed of Elymus nutans, Cross row (S_C), Double row (S_D), and Single Row (S_R), and three mixed communities consisting of Elymus nutans and Onobrychis viciifolia, Broadcast(M_B), Dependent row (M_D) and Independent row (M_I) were established in Tianzhu County on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau during 2018–2019. The results showed S_C was the most productive monoculture community, with less intraspecific competitiveness and higher population density after establishment, which could reduce the influence of lodging on yield loss. The maximum forage yield was attained at the end of 2018 (5187.6 kg·ha−1) and August 2019 (26190.9 kg·ha−1). In mixed communities, the relationship of natural height between E. nutans and O. viciifolia was relatively stable, but growth rate displayed asynchronous traits. Besides, mixed communities had higher lodging resistance compared with monoculture communities; E. nutans showed higher competitiveness than O. viciifolia, but O. viciifolia competivity when the community natural height decreased. M_B (3015.3 kg·ha−1 in 2018; 4804.6 kg·ha−1 at the flowering of 2019), and M_D (7686.2 kg·ha−1 in 2019) had better performance in forage yield. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility of adjusting plant spatial arrangements as a means to enhance forage production in alpine regions. It is crucial to consider the interaction of growth rates, as this factor determines the optimal utilization time for monocultural and mixed communities. Additionally, this study highlights the influence of changes in sowing patterns on forage growth and yield, while enriching the grassland establishment mode, thus supporting the development of sustainable livestock systems in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau.

Mixed cropping increases grain yield and lodging resistance by improving the canopy light environment of wheat populations

The primary technical way to increase wheat yield is to increase planting density. However, the dense planting population has poor stem development quality due to intensified resource competition, ultimately leading to an increased lodging risk. Mixed cropping can take advantage of the genetic diversity of cultivars to solve the contradiction between lodging traits and yield in dense planting wheat populations. Nevertheless, its resistance mechanism to lodging and yield increase still needs to be studied in depth. Here, we conducted a field experiment in the North China Plain using a lodging-resistant cultivar, Shannong 28 (SN28) and a lodging-sensitive cultivar, Shannong 16 (SN16), as test materials to study the effect of mixed cropping on the crop yield by setting 3 planting densities: 225 plants m-2 (D1), 375 plants m-2 (D2), and 525 plants m-2 (D3). We studied the effect of mixed cropping on the resistance of wheat population and yield. The results showed that the mixed sowing treatment (MIX) significantly improved the canopy light interception rate (8.99%) and net photosynthetic efficiency (11.02%) under dense planting conditions (D3). It improved stem quality by increasing the content of carbohydrates (lignin, cellulose and soluble sugar), on the other hand, contributing to yield by increasing grain weight. Meanwhile, the structural equation modeling validated the above results. Compared to SN16 sole cropping (SN16), SN28 sole cropping (SN28) and MEAN (average of the two varieties in sole cropping), MIX yield was significantly higher by 17.39%, 3.86% and 10.21%. These findings revealed that mixed cropping improved yields due to improved wheat denseness tolerance, reduced field lodging rate, and increased grain weight. Our study concluded that this could be a cultivation measure to effectively suppress the occurrence of wheat lodging from the perspective of adaptive changes in stem under dense planting populations, to provide a theoretical basis for wheat lodging resistance and yield increase.

Effects of Mixed Planting on Machine Transplanting Adaptability and Grain Yield of Hybrid Rice

Because the current hybrid rice machine transplanting sowing quantity is too large and the high rate of missing hills or poor seedling quality during mechanical transplanting, the mechanized planting of hybrid rice is limited, which results in significant hindrance of large-scale planting of hybrid rice in China. In this study, a mixed sowing technology (replacement of a portion of hybrid rice seeds with conventional rice seeds) in seedling cultivation was adopted to determine the appropriate variety combinations and conventional rice sowing quantity using a variety combination experiment and sowing quantity experiments, respectively. The results of the variety combination experiment showed that combinations of Changyou 4 mixed with Nanjing 5055, and Yuanliangyou mixed with Yangdao 6 could reduce the sowing quantity of hybrid rice, improve the quality of machine transplanting, and not reduce the grain yield. The results of the conventional rice sowing quantity experiment showed that with the increase in conventional rice sowing quantity, the seedling quality, spikelet per panicle, and filled kernel percentage decreased, and the mechanical transplanting quality improved. Compared with pure sowing hybrid rice, the grain yield was not significantly different in the japonica rice treatment when the sowing quantity of Nanjing 5055 was more than 75 g/tray and Yangdao 6 was more than 60 g/tray. With the increase in conventional rice sowing quantity, the missing hill rate decreased significantly and the seedling density increased significantly, so that the panicle number was also improved, which might have compensated the reduction in seedling quality, spikelet per panicle, and filled kernel percentage. As a whole, 90 g Nanjing 5055 seeds mixed with 30 g Changyou 4 seeds per tray and 75 g Yangdao 6 seeds mixed with 30 g Yuanliangyou seeds per tray were suitable sowing quantities for mixed planting that could ensure strong seedlings and better mechanical transplanting quality, while reducing the cost (reduce the sowing quantity of hybrid rice and conventional rice) without reducing the grain yield.

Grass-legume mixture and nitrogen application improve yield, quality, and water and nitrogen utilization efficiency of grazed pastures in the loess plateau.

Grazing on cultivated grassland is a green agricultural model. However, in China's Loess Plateau, the type of cultivated grassland suitable for grazing and the amount of nitrogen application is still unclear, which has led to the failure of this model to be widely implemented. In this context, we set up an experiment using three grass planting types, including monoculture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), monoculture of brome (Bromus inermis L.), and mixed planting of the two forages. Under each planting type, there were six management measures: grazing and no nitrogen application (GN1), grazing and 80 kg ha-1 nitrogen application (GN2), grazing and 160 kg ha-1 nitrogen application (GN3), cutting and no nitrogen application (MN1), cutting and 80 kg ha-1 nitrogen application (MN2), and cutting and 160 kg ha-1 nitrogen application (MN3). To explore the impacts of these treatments on pastures, we studied the effects on the yield, quality, and water use efficiency of the three cultivated grasslands. Results showed that alfalfa monoculture and alfalfa-brome mixed sowing grassland resulted in significantly higher hay yield, crude protein yield, water use efficiency (WUE), precipitation use efficiency (PUE), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) as compared to brome monoculture grassland. In addition, the crude protein, ether extract, and crude ash content of alfalfa monoculture and alfalfa-brome mixture were increased significantly while the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were reduced, thereby increasing the relative feed value (RFV) during the two years. The forage hay yield, crude protein yield, ether extract, crude ash content, RFV, PUE, and WUE were significantly higher with GN1, GN2, and GN3 treatments than that with MN1 treatment. In contrast, the NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content was significantly lower than the MN1 treatment. Furthermore, the fresh forage yield, crude protein yield, PUE, and WUE of GN3 treatment were significantly higher than that of GN1 and GN2 treatments in both years, while the NUE and AEN were significantly higher in GN2 and GN3 treatments than that of MN3 treatment. Based on these results, alfalfa-brome mixed cropping with the application of 160 kg ha-1 nitrogen under grazing conditions is an appropriate management practice for improving the forage yield, quality, and water- and nitrogen utilization efficiency of cultivated grassland in the Loess Plateau of China. This integrated management model is applicable to the cultivation and utilization of mixed grassland on nutrient-poor land in the Loess Plateau.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ПОЛИВНЫХ НОРМ ПРИ ОРОШАЕМОМ ВОЗДЕЛЫВАНИИ КОРМОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР В УСЛОВИЯХ СТЕПНОЙ ЗОНЫ СЕВЕРНОГО КАЗАХСТАНА

The article presents the results of research on the selection and use of sprinkling machines in the cultivation of agrophytocenoses of fodder crops on irrigated lands of Northern Kazakhstan. Evaluation and selection of a sprinkling machine for Northern Kazakhstan were made on the basis of theoretical data from previous studies, taking into account the following factors – low water and energy intensity, less or safe volume of soil washout. The objects of the study were annual fodder crops for mowing, in field experiments classical methods were used, based on the principles of observing a single difference by setting up and laying field and laboratory experiments on soils typical for the region, selecting a sprinkling machine by analyzing theoretical indicators.The analysis showed that the pre-irrigation soil moisture is not taken into account when calculating the erosion-permissible irrigation rate, which causes the risk of runoff and soil erosion at high thresholds of pre-irrigation soil moisture (70% lowest moisture capacity and more), respectively, the use of the ValleyFP565 sprinkling machine, with the calculated Erosion-Permissible Irrigation Rate indicators, does not cause runoff water, respectively, soil erosion and an irrational increase in the irrigation rate. For the cultivation of mixed sowing of oats with mustard during irrigation with a growing season of 56 days, 4 irrigations were required with an irrigation rate of 1096 m3/ha. During irrigation, the total water consumption of oat crops with mustard was 1638 m3/ha, while the share of the irrigation norm in the total water consumption was 61.5%.

Features of crop formation and productivity of legume-festulolium grass mixtures in the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia

The article presents the results of four years of research in a field experiment conducted on medium-loamy gray forest soil of the Kaluga region. The soil of the experiment was characterized by: humus content - 2.7%, pH – 5.9, gross nitrogen content - 0.12%, mobile phosphorus content - 135, exchangeable potassium - 100 mg/kg of soil. Objects of research: festulolium of the Fest and Allegro varieties, skip-row sown and in mixtures with legumes grasses - meadow clover of the Delets and Orlovsky varieties, alfalfa variable Sarga variety and Eastern galega Gale variety. Legumes-festulolium grass mixtures on average for three years formed the green mass and dry matter yield in the range of 34.5-43.5; 34,8-43,9 and 7,2-9,3; 7,2-9,4 t/ha, respectively, with skip-row and mixed sowing methods. The maximum productivity was obtained in a grass mixture of alfalfa of the hybrid Sarga variety with festulolium of the Allegro variety. The yield of exchange energy in legume-festulolium grass mixtures was in the range of 66.8-90.4 and 68.1-91.3 GJ/ha, respectively, with skip-row and mixed crops. The largest collection was provided by alfalfa-festulolium mixtures. Alfalfa grass mixtures of the Sarga variety with festulolium of the Fest and Allegro varieties provided the collection of crude protein 17.1-17.3 and 16.7-17.2 c/ha, respectively, with skip-row and mixed sowing methods. The collection of crude protein in clover- and galega-festulolium grass mixtures did not exceed 11.7 and 12.0 c/ha. The total energy costs and the energy efficiency coefficient according to the experimental variants were 17.2-17.7 GJ/ha and 3.8-5.1 for skip-row, 17.3-17.8 GJ/ha and 3.9-5.1 for mixed crops, respectively. Grass mixtures with the participation of alfalfa of the Sarga variety and festulolium of the Fest and Allegro varieties had the highest total energy costs and the maximum energy efficiency coefficient.

Grain yield and quality of wheat in wheat-legumes intercropping under organic and conventional growing systems

The effect of simultaneous intercropping of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with different legumes of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and purple clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) on selected production and qualitative parameters of wheat was evaluated in field trials conducted both in organic and conventional cropping systems, in comparison with pure sown wheat. Wheat intercropped with legumes achieved higher grain yield compared to pure sown wheat for an average of two years. However, in organic cultivation, the positive effect of intercropping on wheat yields was more pronounced. In addition, a strong influence of the year was noted. In 2021, in the organic cropping system, the most yielding intercropped wheat (especially with pea and bean) achieved 114–117% higher yields compared to pure sown wheat (in the previous year of 2020, it was usually only about 102–106%). In the conventional cropping system, the effect of intercropping on wheat yield was significantly weaker, and in 2021, wheat intercropped with legumes reached even lower yields than pure sown wheat in some cases. In terms of sowing methods (both in organic and conventional cropping systems), mixed sowing with individual legumes significantly exceeded the yields of wheat grown with legumes in separate, alternating rows. As regards quality parameters, wheat intercropped with legumes reached in comparison with pure sown wheat usually had higher crude protein content in wheat grain dry matter and higher values of Zeleny sedimentation.

Effects of mixed sowing of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacaea Schreb.) varieties Millennium 2 and Arid 3 on growth of lawns

Effects of mixed sowing of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacaea Schreb.) varieties Millennium 2 and Arid 3 on growth of lawns

Research progress and prospects of two-line hybrid wheat in China

<p indent="0mm">The effective utilization of wheat heterosis has been a worldwide problem. Since the 1950s, systematic research has mainly focused on the “three-line method” and “chemical killing method” of obtaining hybrid wheat and has not made substantial progress into the present. In the 1990s, two-line hybrid wheat technology created by Chinese scientists based on the discovery and utilization of wheat with photo-thermal-sensitive male sterile germplasm has developed rapidly, making China the only country that uses sterile lines for commercial hybrid wheat production. From the perspective of the whole agroindustrial chain, the research advances of two-line hybrid wheat in China were analyzed and summarized, including germplasm discovery, light-temperature conversion characteristics, genetic mechanisms of wheat photo-thermo-sensitive male sterile lines, selection of male sterile lines, creation of restorer lines, innovation of strong heterotic hybrids, technology for large-scale seed production, and various demonstrations and extensions. The genetic diversity of the photo-thermal-sensitive male sterile lines was examined, and the transformation regulation model of photo-thermo-sensitive male sterility in wheat was thus revealed, indicating that different types of male sterile lines have different restorer genes. The creation of restorer lines through multi restorer gene polymerization and implementing spring × winter wheat hybridization have been illustrated as effective ways to create strongly heterotic hybrids. Taking advantage of hybrid vigor in terms of the ecological synergy, physiological synergy, and temporal and spatial synergy between the parental lines, the invention of the mixed sowing seed production methods, and whole-process mechanization, the seed production yield of two-line hybrid wheat has been greatly improved. Thus, the associated seed production cost has been reduced, laying a critical foundation for the industrial production of hybrid wheat. Here, suggestions and prospects for technological innovation and industrialization of two-line hybrid wheat in China are also described, and it is noted that geographically, ecologically, and genetically distant germplasm should be further utilized to cultivate hybrid wheat varieties with strong advantages. Strengthening the creation of sterile lines and restorer lines with high outcrossing rates, high resilience, and high combining ability and greatly improving the yield of seed production are the keys to future research and development of hybrid wheat. It is clear that this is an important period of opportunity for the research and application of China’s hybrid wheat to achieve leapfrog development. It is of great strategic importance for China to maintain its international leading position in hybrid wheat development and production as well as seize the commanding heights of the international seed industry of hybrid wheat and ensure national food security.

Effects of Mixed Sowing of Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) and Rape on Rice Yield and Soil Physical and Chemical Properties

In order to explore the effects of Chinese milk vetch and rape mixed sowing on rice yield and soil fertility, and select the best planting mode, five different ratios of Chinese milk vetch and rape mixed sowing were designed to study the effects of different ratios on rice yield, soil physicochemical properties and soil fertility in 0-10 cm, 10- 20 cm and 20-30 cm layers. Grey correlation analysis of soil nutrient and yield was carried out by using grey system theory. The influence of different soil layers on soil chemical properties was greater than physical properties. The effect on shallow soil is greater than that on deep soil. Mixed sowing of Chinese milk vetch and rape improved soil comprehensive fertility in all soil layers, and rice yield was the highest in 2M2R treatment. pH value had the greatest effect on actual rice yield, followed by available potassium. Therefore, mixed sowing of Chinese milk vetch and rape could significantly increase the yield of early rice and soil nutrient content, and the pattern of “1/2 Chinese milk vetch +1/2 rape-early rice-late rice” had the best effect.