The effects of shading on morphological and physiological indexes offive legume forages species

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different shading conditions on morphological and physiological indexes of Medicago sativa, Melilotus suaveolens, Trifolium repens, Astragalus adsurgens, and Lotus cornioulatus for providing the basis for sowing these legumes under the forest. This study showed that the height, tiller number, the longest section between the degree, root length and chlorophyll content of five kinds of legume forages decreased as light intensity declined, in which T. repens had the minimum amplitude and L. cornioulatus followed. At 23% light transmission, the soluble sugar content of T. repens was significantly higher than other legumes and the MDA of L. cornioulatuss increased significantly, but those of T. repens showed a smaller changes and A. adsurgens was death. The shade tolerance of five forage legumes showed that T. repens was the strongest, and L. cornioulatus followed, and then M. sativa and M. suaveolens were poor, and A. adsurgens was the worst.