PJB-2021-715
A study on agronomic traits, yields and nutritive value of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] cultivated with underground water drainage system in saline-alkali soil in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) of China
Shichao Wang, Hui Gao, Tonggang Fu, Lipu Han, Shicun Ni, Hongzhu Liang and Jintong Liu
Abstract
In order to explore suitable foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) varieties, important for increasing plant yields in heavy saline-alkaline soil, this study utilized saline-alkali soil in Mongolia as experiment site. Seven foxtail millet cultivars were used as experimental object, and the agronomic traits, biomass, and forage nutritive value of this crop were analysed in severe saline-alkali soil with underground water drainage system. The biomass, yields, agronomic traits, and forage quality of all the cultivars of foxtail millet were compared. Compared with the agronomic traits, forage components and nutritive value varied significantly within different growth stages. The ZZ-3 cultivar held the maximum leaf number, stem diameter, leaf area, and SPAD values. All foxtail cultivars had higher crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents at the heading stage than at the other stages. The NDF and ADF of ZZ-12 (69.2% and 38.3%, respectively) were higher (p<0.05) than those of the other foxtail millet cultivars (63.8-68.9% and 35.0-35.8%, respectively) at heading. Compared with those of the other cultivars, the CP (1.29 t ha-1), NDF (7.47 t ha-1), and ADF (3.87 t ha-1) of the ZZ-5 cultivar were more intense at heading stage. No differences in the relative forage value (RFV) were observed among the seven cultivars at harvest. The selection of a suitable cultivar of foxtail millet at harvest under a subsurface pipe drainage system can be extremely effective at improving plant production in heavy saline-alkali soil. The study provided scientific bases for the cultivation of foxtail millet in heavy saline-alkali soil of the Hetao Irrigation District.
To Cite this article:
Wang, S., H. Gao, T. Fu, L. Han, S. Ni, H. Liang and J. Liu. 2023. A study on agronomic traits, yields and nutritive value of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] cultivated with underground water drainage system in saline-alkali soil in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) of China. Pak. J. Bot., 55(5): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-5(15)
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