Production performance of mixed grassland in the Loess Plateau of Longzhong

In this study, we aimed to guide the sustainable and healthy development of artificial grasslands and herbivorous animal husbandry in hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau. In this study, alfalfa and sainfoin were selected as experimental materials to treat the forage productivity for alfalfa mixed with sainfoin at ratios of 1 ꞉ 0 (H₁), 7 ꞉ 3 (H₂), 5 ꞉ 5 (H₃), 3 ꞉ 7 (H₄), and 0 ꞉ 1 (H₅) at the Golden Village of Lijiabao Town in Dingxi City, Gansu Province, between 2016 and 2018. The following results were obtained: (1) In the second year, the aboveground biomasses after H₂, H₃, and H₄ treatment were 46.0%, 34.0%, and 12.0% higher than that after H₁ treatment, respectively, but all were lower than that after H₅ treatment. In the third year, the aboveground biomasses after H₂, H₃, and H₄ treatment were higher by 36.5%, 40.0%, and 23.5% than those after H₁ treatment, respectively, and higher by 34.9%, 38.4%, and 22.1% than that after H₅ treatment, respectively. (2) When the proportion of alfalfa was reduced in the mixed sowing combination, the interspecific competitiveness of alfalfa relative to sainfoin decreased. (3) The crude protein content of alfalfa and sainfoin was the highest, and the relative feeding value of alfalfa was higher than that of sainfoin. In conclusion, under the mixed sowing ratio of alfalfa and sainfoin of 7 ꞉ 3 and 5 ꞉ 5, a relatively high aboveground biomass and nutrient yield can be obtained in the second and third years of growth, and these proportions can be employed during production.