Effects of planting density on the growth and quality of Eremopyrum orientale

To explore the effect of planting density on the growth and quality of Eremopyrum orientale in northern Xinjiang, a potting experiment was used to set up three planting densities of 3, 6 and 10 plants per pot, about 100, 200 and 335 plant·m⁻², respectively, and the plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem thickness, tillering number, biomass, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber under each planting density were determined, and the difference analysis was carried out. The results showed that the plant height, leaf length, leaf width and population biomass of E. orientale increased with the increase of planting density, and the planting density had no significant effect on stem thickness, tillering number, single plant biomass and root-to-shoot ratio (P > 0.05), and the contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber of E. orientale increased with the increase of planting density. Considering the population biomass and forage quality, E. orientale grown under the planting density of 10 plants per pot (335 plant·m⁻²) can play a greater role in spring supplementary feeding.