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HERO ID
4592808
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Application of molybdenum fertilizer enhanced quality and production of alfalfa in northern China under non-irrigated conditions
Author(s)
Mao, X; Li, Q; Ren, L; Bai, W; Zhang, WenHao
Year
2018
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Journal of Plant Nutrition
ISSN:
0190-4167
EISSN:
1532-4087
Volume
41
Issue
8
Page Numbers
1009-1019
DOI
10.1080/01904167.2018.1431672
Web of Science Id
WOS:000427075800006
Abstract
Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micro-mineral nutrient for plant growth and development. As an important legume forage, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is frequently planted in marginal lands of northern China where water scarcity and infertile soil are limiting factors for alfalfa production. Mo plays an important role in nitrogen (N) metabolism in general and N fixation in legume species in particular. To evaluate the role of Mo fertilizer in alfalfa quality and production in semi-arid areas of northern China, we conducted a three-year field experiment in Inner Mongolia from 2012 to 2014. Mo fertilizer at the doses of 0, 150g hm(-2), 300g hm(-2)yr(-1) was applied consecutively across the three years. Application of Mo at 300g hm(-2)yr(-1) significantly increased dry yield of alfalfa in 2014. Crude protein (CP) content of alfalfa without application of Mo exhibited a decline trend from 2012 to 2014. Application of Mo significantly enhanced total CP in 2012 and 2014, and delayed the reduction in total CP across the three years. In contrast to CP, Mo fertilizer had no significant effects on neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content. In addition, we found that nitrate reductase activity of alfalfa was increased by Mo fertilizer, which may account for the enhanced CP content in alfalfa. These findings highlight that application of Mo fertilizer can be an effective way to improve alfalfa production and quality in semi-arid areas in northern China.
Keywords
alfalfa (Medicago sativa); crude protein content; molybdenum fertilization; northern China; semi-arid area; yield production
Tags
IRIS
•
Molybdenum
Litsearch 2018
WOS
•
Nitrate/Nitrite
LitSearch Update 2018/1/1 - 2022/8/17
WoS
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