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Crossing latitude introduction delayed flowering and facilitated dry matter accumulation of soybean as a forage crop
Journal of Integrative Agriculture (JIA) 2025, 24(4): 1436-1447
Published: 20 April 2025
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Grain soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) shows potential as a forage crop following its introduction from low to high latitudes due to in its growth phenotype. However, the application of this approach is impeded by the diverse ecological types of soybean, their adaptability to the introduction, and the uncertainty surrounding the growth phenotype post-introduction. This study introduced 24 grain soybean varieties from low-latitude regions (22–31°N) to the high-latitude northwestern Loess Plateau (39°N) between 2018 and 2019. The growth phenotypes were observed, and their forage productivity potential was assessed. All varieties displayed delayed flowering following cross-latitude introduction, with the vegetative growth phase of some varieties even exceeding their entire growth duration at their origin. Rapid dry matter accumulation rates indicated growth adaptation performance and formed the basis for soybean forage yield. Varieties from the tropical South China region exhibited significant yield advantages, with dry matter yields of 8.97–14.68 t ha–1 and crude protein yields of 1.44–2.51 t ha–1. Varieties HX3 and GX7 from this region demonstrated optimal growth adaptability and productivity in the cross-latitude environment, achieving the highest dry matter yields of 14.68 and 13.86 t ha–1, respectively. As a result, HX3 and GX7 are recommended for local farming systems to provide high-quality forage. The cross-latitude introduction of soybean is proposed as a viable and efficient strategy for forage improvement and application.

Issue
Effects of Long-Term Conservation Tillage on Soil Carbon Content and Invertase Activity in Dry Farmland on the Loess Plateau
Scientia Agricultura Sinica 2023, 56(5): 907-919
Published: 01 March 2023
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【Objective】

The effects of long-term conservation tillage on soil carbon and carbon invertase activity in forage-crop rotation system of dry farmland in the Loess Plateau were explored to provide the scientific basis for soil carbon sequestration and sustainable and healthy development of agriculture in dry farmland.

【Method】

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of long-term traditional tillage (T), no-tillage (NT), traditional tillage+straw mulch (TS), and no-tillage+straw mulch (NTS) on soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon content (MBC), β-glycosidase (βG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH) and β-xylosidase enzymes (βX) in forage-crop rotation system at the National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of the Grassland Agricultural Ecosystem in Qingyang, Gansu Province. Soils were collected from 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm depths at the harvest of maize (Zea mays L.).

【Result】

(1) Conservation tillage significantly increased the contents of SOC and MBC in soil, especially in 0-5 cm soil layer. Compared with conventional tillage, straw mulching increased SOC and MBC by 19.1% and 39.9%, respectively, and no-tillage increased SOC and MBC by 15.1% and 34.3%, respectively. (2) Conservation tillage significantly increased soil carbon invertase activity, the three enzyme activities showed: βG>CBH>βX, the sensitivity of conservation tillage measures showed: CBH>βX>βG. Compared with traditional tillage, the activities of βG, CBH and βX in 0-5 cm soil layer under straw mulching increased by 20.3%, 37.6% and 41.1%, respectively, and those under no-tillage increased by 12.5%, 31.0% and 26.1%, respectively. Straw mulching in 5-20 cm soil layer increased βG, CBH and βX by -7.6%, 99.9% and 3.5%, respectively, and no-tillage increased them by -21.1%, 22.1% and -12.1%, respectively. In addition, the structural equation results showed that soil carbon invertase activity was mainly affected by soil total nitrogen content in forage-crop rotation system. (3) Straw mulching could directly affect the accumulation of soil carbon, mainly affecting the activity of soil carbon invertase by changing the soil total nitrogen content; no tillage had no significant impact on soil environment, resulting in no significant changes in soil carbon content and carbon invertase activity.

【Conclusion】

The accumulation of soil carbon was mainly affected by the direct effect of straw mulching measures, and the activity of carbon invertase was mainly changed by the indirect effect of soil total nitrogen in the forage-crop rotation system of dry farmland in the Loess Plateau. Among them, no tillage combined with straw mulching was the most effective measure to improve soil carbon content and enzyme activity, and β- Glucosidase is the main enzyme involved in soil carbon inversion.

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