Optimizing Lucerne Productivity and Resource Efficiency in China’s Yellow River Irrigated Region: Synergistic Effects of Ridge-Film Mulching and Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilization

Minhua Yin, Yuanbo Jiang (), Yi Ling, Yanlin Ma, Guangping Qi, Yanxia Kang, Yayu Wang, Qiang Lu, Yujie Shang, Xiangrong Fan, Gangqiang Han, Boda Li, Jiapeng Zhu, Jinxi Chen and Haiyan Li
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Minhua Yin: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yuanbo Jiang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yi Ling: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yanlin Ma: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Guangping Qi: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yanxia Kang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yayu Wang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Qiang Lu: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yujie Shang: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Xiangrong Fan: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Gangqiang Han: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Boda Li: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Jiapeng Zhu: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Jinxi Chen: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Haiyan Li: College of Water Conservancy and Hydrpower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: To address low productivity and water constraints in lucerne fields of China’s Gansu Yellow River Irrigation Region, this study optimized lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) cultivation through synergistic planting nitrogen regimes. A two-year field trial (2021–2022) evaluated three systems: ridge-furrow with ordinary mulch (PM), ridge-furrow with biodegradable mulch (BM), and conventional flat planting (FP), under four controlled-release N rates (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha −1 ). Multidimensional assessments included growth dynamics, dry matter yield, forage quality (crude protein [CP], acid/neutral detergent fiber [ADF/NDF], relative feed value [RFV]), and resource efficiency metrics (water use efficiency [WUE], irrigation WUE [IWUE], partial factor productivity of N [PFPN], agronomic N use efficiency [ANUE]). The results showed the following: (1) Compared with conventional flat planting, ridge planting with film mulching significantly promoted lucerne growth, with ordinary plastic film providing a stronger effect than biodegradable film. Plant height and stem diameter exhibited a quadratic response to elevated nitrogen (N) application rates under identical planting patterns, peaking at intermediate N levels before declining with further increases. (2) Ridge planting with both ordinary plastic film and biodegradable film combined with an appropriate N rate improved lucerne yield and quality. In particular, the PMN2 treatment reached the highest value of yield (14,600 kg ha −1 ), CP (19.19%) and RFV (124.18), and the lowest value of ADF (29.63%) and NDF (48.86%), and all of them were significantly better than the other treatments ( p < 0.05). (3) WUE, IWUE, PFPN, and ANUE followed the pattern PM > BM > FP. With increasing N application rates, WUE, IWUE, and ANUE initially rose and then declined, peaking under N2, whereas PFPN showed a decreasing trend and reached its maximum under N1. Principal component analysis revealed that ridge planting with ordinary plastic film combined with 160 kg·ha −1 N (PMN2) optimized lucerne performance, achieving balanced improvements in yield, forage quality, and water–nitrogen use efficiency. This regimen is recommended as the optimal strategy for lucerne cultivation in the Gansu Yellow River Irrigation Region and analogous ecoregions.

Keywords: productive performance; ridge mulching; planting pattern; water and nitrogen use efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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