Determination and comparison of the production performance of pasturesamong differentspatial structure of legume-grass mixtures

The seven indexes including herbage yield, dissimilarity of grass and legume relative density, relative yield total (RYT), dissimilarity of grass and legume relative yield, crude protein yield, ether extract yield and neutral detergent fiber yield were selected to study the changes of the comprehensive production performance under different legume-grass mixtures in 2012―2013. The mixture patterns included two legume-grass combinations: 5, 2 species mixture at three sowing ratios of legume︰grass (6︰4, 5︰5, 4︰6), mixed cropping and intercropping respectively. The species for mixture include Onobrychis viciaefolia, Trifolium pratense, Dactylis glomerata, Bromus inermis and Phleum pratense. The results showed that the forage yield, CP yield, EE yield, NDF yield and RYT values of legume-grass mixture (1∶1)were higher than mixed cropping in mixed 2 species-1 and mixed 2 species-1. The forage yield of mixed cropping were lower than intercropping in all species mixtures. The RYT values of all mixtures were higher than 1. The dissimilarity of grass and legume relative density, grass and legume relative yield for 2 rows legume︰2 rows grass and 3 rows legume︰3 rows grass were higher than 1 legume︰1 grass and mixed cropping. Therefore, from mixed cropping to intercropping like 1 legume︰1 grass, 2 rows legume︰2 rows grass and 3 rows legume︰3 rows grass, the forage yield and quality, the interspecific compatibility and the mixed community stability could improve. The comprehensive production performance of intercropping could further increase.