Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province

In light of the current global challenges, such as climate change, the overexploitation of natural resources, and increasing food demand, drought-tolerant forage crops present substantial potential for development in dryland regions. However, there is a notable gap in research that integrates yield...

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Main Authors: Guanlu Zhang, Jikuan Chai, Guiqin Zhao, Liang Zeng, Wenping Wang, Kuiju Niu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/707
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author Guanlu Zhang
Jikuan Chai
Guiqin Zhao
Liang Zeng
Wenping Wang
Kuiju Niu
author_facet Guanlu Zhang
Jikuan Chai
Guiqin Zhao
Liang Zeng
Wenping Wang
Kuiju Niu
author_sort Guanlu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description In light of the current global challenges, such as climate change, the overexploitation of natural resources, and increasing food demand, drought-tolerant forage crops present substantial potential for development in dryland regions. However, there is a notable gap in research that integrates yield improvement, nutritional quality enhancement, and resistance to pests and diseases in the production of forage crops in semi-arid areas. Therefore, selecting oat forage varieties that exhibit high yield, superior quality, and enhanced pest resistance can substantially advance the forage industry and animal husbandry in semi-arid regions. In this study, ten oat varieties, including both domestic and international cultivars, were cultivated in a semi-arid region (Weiqi town, Gansu Province) during the 2023–2024 growing season. A comprehensive analysis was performed to assess the yield, quality, and pest resistance of these varieties. All ten oat varieties successfully completed their growth cycles. Among them, Everleaf 126 exhibited a shorter plant height compared to the other varieties, measuring 103.32 cm and 115.14 cm over two years. However, its superior leaf area and tiller number led to the highest hay yields (11,819.33 kg/ha and 13,550.67 kg/ha) and seed yields (4913.20 kg/ha and 5242.33 kg/ha). Additionally, Everleaf 126 demonstrated significantly higher leaf–stem ratios (0.35 and 0.41), crude protein content (8.52% and 9.13%), and crude fat content (2.19% and 2.69%) relative to other oat varieties (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, it showed the best resistance to powdery mildew (MR), red leaf disease (HR), leaf spot disease (MR), and aphids (R). The plant height of Kona was the lowest, measuring 81.22 cm and 87.16 cm, respectively, with the fewest number of tillers and the smallest leaf area. Baler II exhibited the lowest hay yield at 8770.10 kg/ha and 7898.33 kg/ha, as well as the lowest seed yield at 3409.33 kg/ha and 3323.90 kg/ha. Kona also had the lowest leaf–stem ratio (0.19 and 10.13) and crude protein content (5.74% and 6.58%), while exhibiting the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) values. Furthermore, Kona showed the poorest resistance to powdery mildew (MS) and leaf spot (MS). Finally, based on the comprehensive evaluation analysis of the membership function, in the semi-arid region, Everleaf 126 achieved the highest overall performance based upon a comprehensive evaluation, followed by Molasses and Longyan No.3. In comparison, Kona received the poorest performance.
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spelling doaj-art-c2db0d2e56624dffa5d610cc46556f342025-08-20T02:41:54ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115370710.3390/agronomy15030707Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu ProvinceGuanlu Zhang0Jikuan Chai1Guiqin Zhao2Liang Zeng3Wenping Wang4Kuiju Niu5Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaIn light of the current global challenges, such as climate change, the overexploitation of natural resources, and increasing food demand, drought-tolerant forage crops present substantial potential for development in dryland regions. However, there is a notable gap in research that integrates yield improvement, nutritional quality enhancement, and resistance to pests and diseases in the production of forage crops in semi-arid areas. Therefore, selecting oat forage varieties that exhibit high yield, superior quality, and enhanced pest resistance can substantially advance the forage industry and animal husbandry in semi-arid regions. In this study, ten oat varieties, including both domestic and international cultivars, were cultivated in a semi-arid region (Weiqi town, Gansu Province) during the 2023–2024 growing season. A comprehensive analysis was performed to assess the yield, quality, and pest resistance of these varieties. All ten oat varieties successfully completed their growth cycles. Among them, Everleaf 126 exhibited a shorter plant height compared to the other varieties, measuring 103.32 cm and 115.14 cm over two years. However, its superior leaf area and tiller number led to the highest hay yields (11,819.33 kg/ha and 13,550.67 kg/ha) and seed yields (4913.20 kg/ha and 5242.33 kg/ha). Additionally, Everleaf 126 demonstrated significantly higher leaf–stem ratios (0.35 and 0.41), crude protein content (8.52% and 9.13%), and crude fat content (2.19% and 2.69%) relative to other oat varieties (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, it showed the best resistance to powdery mildew (MR), red leaf disease (HR), leaf spot disease (MR), and aphids (R). The plant height of Kona was the lowest, measuring 81.22 cm and 87.16 cm, respectively, with the fewest number of tillers and the smallest leaf area. Baler II exhibited the lowest hay yield at 8770.10 kg/ha and 7898.33 kg/ha, as well as the lowest seed yield at 3409.33 kg/ha and 3323.90 kg/ha. Kona also had the lowest leaf–stem ratio (0.19 and 10.13) and crude protein content (5.74% and 6.58%), while exhibiting the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) values. Furthermore, Kona showed the poorest resistance to powdery mildew (MS) and leaf spot (MS). Finally, based on the comprehensive evaluation analysis of the membership function, in the semi-arid region, Everleaf 126 achieved the highest overall performance based upon a comprehensive evaluation, followed by Molasses and Longyan No.3. In comparison, Kona received the poorest performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/707oatsyield traitsnutritional qualitypests and diseasesmembership function
spellingShingle Guanlu Zhang
Jikuan Chai
Guiqin Zhao
Liang Zeng
Wenping Wang
Kuiju Niu
Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
Agronomy
oats
yield traits
nutritional quality
pests and diseases
membership function
title Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
title_full Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
title_fullStr Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
title_short Comprehensive Evaluation of Different Oat Varieties in Semi-Arid Areas of Gansu Province
title_sort comprehensive evaluation of different oat varieties in semi arid areas of gansu province
topic oats
yield traits
nutritional quality
pests and diseases
membership function
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/707
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AT liangzeng comprehensiveevaluationofdifferentoatvarietiesinsemiaridareasofgansuprovince
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