Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil
The deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus is a primary constraint on the normal growth of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) in the alkaline desert soils of northern Xinjiang. Optimizing the combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers can maximally significantly enhance farmers’ economic returns wh...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1526648/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850087111148961792 |
|---|---|
| author | Yanliang Sun Jing Sun Xuzhe Wang Andrew D. Cartmill Ignacio F. López Chunhui Ma Qianbing Zhang |
| author_facet | Yanliang Sun Jing Sun Xuzhe Wang Andrew D. Cartmill Ignacio F. López Chunhui Ma Qianbing Zhang |
| author_sort | Yanliang Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus is a primary constraint on the normal growth of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) in the alkaline desert soils of northern Xinjiang. Optimizing the combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers can maximally significantly enhance farmers’ economic returns while concurrently mitigate soil environmental pollution. For this purpose, a field experiment based on a randomized complete block design was conducted over two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) in Shihezi, Xinjiang province, China. The WL366HQ variety of alfalfa was evaluated with four levels each of urea and monoammonium phosphate. The effects of fertilizer treatments were assessed on alfalfa yield, growth traits, nutritional quality, fertilizer use efficiency, and economic benefit. Application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and their interaction significantly (P< 0.05) affected cumulative alfalfa dry matter (DM) yield. In general, compared to no-fertilization treatment, the application of N and P fertilizers resulted in increased plant height, stem thickness, crude protein, and ether extract of alfalfa, while neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) exhibited a decreasing trend. Additionally, while N and P fertilizer application reduced corresponding fertilizer use efficiency, it increased non-corresponding fertilizer use efficiency. During the two-year experimental period, the treatment involving the application of urea at 286.3 kg·ha-1 combined with monoammonium phosphate at 192 kg·ha-1 achieved the highest evaluation scores for production performance, fertilizer use efficiency, and total net profit, resulting in a net profit increase of 44.18% compared to the no-fertilizer treatment. These findings lay the groundwork for nuanced fertilization strategies in future alfalfa cultivation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ad9ede9f8424b0fbb9740946c0aeff9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ad9ede9f8424b0fbb9740946c0aeff92025-08-20T02:43:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-02-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15266481526648Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soilYanliang Sun0Jing Sun1Xuzhe Wang2Andrew D. Cartmill3Ignacio F. López4Chunhui Ma5Qianbing Zhang6College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaThe deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus is a primary constraint on the normal growth of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) in the alkaline desert soils of northern Xinjiang. Optimizing the combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers can maximally significantly enhance farmers’ economic returns while concurrently mitigate soil environmental pollution. For this purpose, a field experiment based on a randomized complete block design was conducted over two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) in Shihezi, Xinjiang province, China. The WL366HQ variety of alfalfa was evaluated with four levels each of urea and monoammonium phosphate. The effects of fertilizer treatments were assessed on alfalfa yield, growth traits, nutritional quality, fertilizer use efficiency, and economic benefit. Application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and their interaction significantly (P< 0.05) affected cumulative alfalfa dry matter (DM) yield. In general, compared to no-fertilization treatment, the application of N and P fertilizers resulted in increased plant height, stem thickness, crude protein, and ether extract of alfalfa, while neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) exhibited a decreasing trend. Additionally, while N and P fertilizer application reduced corresponding fertilizer use efficiency, it increased non-corresponding fertilizer use efficiency. During the two-year experimental period, the treatment involving the application of urea at 286.3 kg·ha-1 combined with monoammonium phosphate at 192 kg·ha-1 achieved the highest evaluation scores for production performance, fertilizer use efficiency, and total net profit, resulting in a net profit increase of 44.18% compared to the no-fertilizer treatment. These findings lay the groundwork for nuanced fertilization strategies in future alfalfa cultivation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1526648/fullagronomic efficiencybest management practices (BMPs)environmental concernsrational and economical fertilizationyield enhancement |
| spellingShingle | Yanliang Sun Jing Sun Xuzhe Wang Andrew D. Cartmill Ignacio F. López Chunhui Ma Qianbing Zhang Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil Frontiers in Plant Science agronomic efficiency best management practices (BMPs) environmental concerns rational and economical fertilization yield enhancement |
| title | Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| title_full | Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| title_fullStr | Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| title_short | Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| title_sort | nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency improves alfalfa medicago sativa l production and performance in alkaline desert soil |
| topic | agronomic efficiency best management practices (BMPs) environmental concerns rational and economical fertilization yield enhancement |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1526648/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yanliangsun nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT jingsun nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT xuzhewang nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT andrewdcartmill nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT ignacioflopez nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT chunhuima nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil AT qianbingzhang nitrogenandphosphorusfertilizeruseefficiencyimprovesalfalfamedicagosativalproductionandperformanceinalkalinedesertsoil |