Comprehensive evaluation on nutritive value of Lotus corniculatus Introduced from Russia

The nutritive value of 61 lotus (Lotus corniculatus) germplasm material introduced from Russia were comprehensively evaluated in this study in the oasis in Northwest China based on the variability analysis and grey relational grade analysis. Leo (Lotus corniculatus CV. Leo), Mirabal (L. corniculatus cv. Mirabal) and Georgia (L. corniculatus cv. Georgia) were used as control materials. Our results revealed the following: Crude protein content varied significantly (13.569%), variation coefficients of phosphorus, calcium, and relative feed value were 13.187%, 12.044%, and 11.537%, respectively. The coefficient of variation of acid detergent fiber, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber were 9.763%, 8.559%, and 8.533%, respectively. Dry matter variation was small and insignificant (0.609%). According to the grey relational degree weighted analysis, the weighted grey correlative degree of Zxy08p-4687, Zxy09p-5647, Zxy09p-6485 was 0.748, 0.733, 0.713, respectively, which had the highest nutritive value. The higher nutritive value of germplasm materials (0.604≤γ≤0.682) included were Zxy08p-5070, Zxy09p-5583, Zxy08p-4892, Zxy09p-5642, Zxy06p-1775, Zxy09p-5591, Zxy08p-4916, Zxy09p-5809, Zxy08p-4645, and Zxy09p-5694. Georgia (0.505≤γi≤0.587), and 27 germplasm accessions had intermediate nutritive value, which indicated that of the total germplasm accessions only 44.262%, including Zxy09p-5591, Zxy08p-4768, Zxy08p-4589, Zxy06p-2666, Zxy06p-2663. The low nutritive value group contained 21 germplasm accessions, Mirabal, and Leo(0.423≤γi≤0.499), which were about 34.426% of the total, including, Zxy06p-2376, Zxy09p-6358, Zxy08p-5393, Zxy08p-4528, and Zxy09p-6300.