Final Report on Winter Fodder Production in China

by

Dr. Dost Muhammad

1. Summary:

A total of 21 cultivars of potential fodder crops were planted on April 19, 2000 on a trial area of 360 m². All the cultivars of oats, alfalfa, and brassica exhibited excellent yield potential; sunflower was the exception. The alfalfa cultivar Condor produced maximum forage yields. The oats cultivar Cuscade excelled all others in trials while brassica cultivar Bumbled proved its superiority over all the forage crops included in trials by producing maximum forage yields.

It was interesting to note that all cultivars included in the various trials produced maximum yields that were comparable to the yield potential of these cultivars under optimum conditions in Pakistan. It is suggested that the same trials should be repeated for another year to select and recommend best varieties for general cultivation on farmer’s fields. Bearing in mind the excellent yield potential of various forage crop cultivars, the seed of some additional brassica, oats, and alfalfa cultivars should be obtained for further evaluation and selection purposes.

2. Background:

Animal production has always been an integral part of the agricultural system in the Xinjiang region. Traditionally farmers have kept livestock for meat, milk, leather and fibres. Undoubtedly these will continue to be major outputs from farms in the future. With the increase in human population, if the increasing standard of living is to be maintained, then animal production needs to be increased.

In the past large quantities of alfalfa seed were produced in Xinjiang. More than 10 seed production sites with 5,340 hectares were established in Hetian, Altai, Changji, Urumqi and Bayinguleng. Several varieties of alfalfa such as Xinjiang Big Leave Alfalfa, Northern Xinjiang Alfalfa, and Variegate Alfalfa not only fulfilled the local demands of planted pastures in Xinjiang but also about 100 tons of seed were exported annually to other provinces. Alfalfa production contributed significantly to the development of a sustainable animal husbandry production system and a sound economy in Xinjiang.

However, at the end of the eighties, alfalfa seed and fodder production in Xinjiang was drastically reduced due to poor production systems, improper management, lack of crop rotations, and especially because of dodder (Cuscata spp .) weed infestation. For these reasons, most of the seed production niches were abandoned. Therefore, the present seed capacity is unable to meet the demands of animal husbandry development in Xinjiang; as a result, alfalfa seed now has to be imported from other provinces.

The scarcity of high quality fodder, especially during winter and spring, is one of the major limiting factors in livestock production in Xinjiang region in general and Altai prefecture in particular. Due to the very narrow genetic base in lucerne landraces, the yields and number of cuttings is low. Also, most of the imported/introduced lucerne varieties are very susceptible to the severe and prolonged winter. Therefore evaluation trials could play an important role in assessing the performance and identifying/selecting suitable varieties, and particularly those able to survive the severely cold and prolonged Xinjiang winters.

3.2. Winter Active Grasses and Legumes:

Broad-leafed multicut forage oats (Avena sativa) intercropped with Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) and vetch (Vicia sativa) have a good potential for Xinjiang. Similarly winter active Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), particularly the New Zealand tetraploid Tama, inter-cropped with alfalfa/red clover could be a good option. It would be desirable if maize and sunflower were also inter-cropped with legumes to improve the protein content and digestibility of forage. Legume species like Vetch (Vicia dasycarpa), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) , mung beans (Phaseolus aureus) etc. could be good options for intercropping.

There is a considerable potential for intercropping within fodder tree plantations (Willow - Salix spp., Russian olive – Elaeagnus angustifolia, Poplar – Alnus nigra), both while trees are growing to maturity and after they are established. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) has proved to be the best legume to thrive well under permanent shade. Another possibility could be white clover (Trifolium repens) that can produce 70 % of the yield in full sunshine.

Alfalfa is one of the most important crops of the area as a major source of hay for winter-feeding, It also grows exceptionally well throughout Xinjiang and has a high value for animal fodder.

4.Trials Undertaken With FAO Assistance:

Two visits were made by a consultant (Dr. Dost Muhammad) to assist the Bureau of Animal Husbandry authorities in Urumqi/ Altai with work on winter fodder. The Terms of Reference / main objectives of the second mission were:

• Survey the area thoroughly and propose a programme of trials to assess new fodder crops for improved winter fodder production;

• Evaluate winter-dormant, non winter-dormant, and moderately winter- dormant alfalfa (Medicago sativa), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), and a number of oats (Avena sativa), rye grass (Lolium multiflorium), sorghum sudan grass hybrids (Sorghum sudanense), brassica (Brassica campestris) and sunflower (Helianthus spp.) cultivars for early autumn and spring fodder production as a sole crop and inter-cropped.

During a consultancy from April 12 - 26, 2000 the fodder consultant thoroughly surveyed the project area including farmer’s fields in order to investigate the traditional cropping patterns and recommend potential fodder crops.

40 kg of six alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars including moderately winter- dormant, non winter-dormant, 3 kg of two brassica (Brassica compestris), 2 kg of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), and 3 kg of two sunflower varieties, one sorghum sudan grass hybrid (Sorghum sudanense) , one vetch (Vicia sativa), and one rye grass (Lolium multiflorum) were introduced from Pakistan to Urumqi, China.

At the Grassland Institute in Altai land was fenced and trials established including:
- one varietal evaluation trial with six winter-dormant/active alfalfa cultivars,
- another trial with three oats cultivars, two brassica, two sunflower, one sorghum sudan grass hybrid, one ryegrass, and one vetch variety as a sole crop as well as inter-cropping of alfalfa, Egyptian clover and vetch with oats and rye grass;

Forage yield estimation was undertaken as well as seed bulking of desirable varieties.

All the trials were planted on the Research Farm of the Grassland Research Institute, Altai with a single replicate as limited land was available for trials. Hence no statistical analysis was conducted on the data recorded.

The Grassland Research Institute, Altai was responsible for management and data recording of the trials. A total of eleven irrigations were applied to the trial from April 22, 2000 to August 2, 2000.

5. Result and Discussion:

Due to limited land availability, the trials were not replicated thus no statistical analyses were undertaken.

Three oats cultivars as a multi-cut crop were planted as a sole crop as well as intercropped with vetch. The results are summarized in Table 1. The oat cultivar Cuscade produced maximum forage and dry matter (hay) yields as compared to the other two cultivars included in the trial. It is interesting to note that the forage and hay yield produced by oats cultivars in Altai are comparable to and in some cases are better than the potential of the best oats varieties in Pakistan. These results are in agreement with Dost (1997) and Dost et al (1994) who reported maximum forage and dry matter yields of 54.99 tons and 12.90 tons/ha respectively when the crop was harvested at 50% flowering stage at the research station. Bhatti et al (1992) also reported slightly higher yields under the two cut system after evaluating 13 oat cultivars.

Table 1. Green fodder and dry matter (hay) yields (tons/ha) of various oats cultivars

Although yield data for only one year are available, it is already recommended to multiply (on farmers fields) the seeds of all the three oats cultivars in the trials, provide the seed to some progressive farmers for participatory cultivar selection and further evaluate these cultivars at more locations. Also seed of 6-8 other broad leaf cultivars should be obtained from Pakistan for further evaluation and selection of potential oats cultivars for other areas with diverse climatic conditions.

fodder oats

Intercropping of oats with Egyptian clover and vetch has a good potential for Xinjiang but unfortunately data for oats intercropped with vetch were recorded only for one cutting that does not provide the real potential (picture) for intercropping of oats + vetch. It is therefore, suggested that intercropping trials should also be further evaluated for at least two years for final recommendations.

It would be desirable if maize and sunflower were also inter-cropped with legumes to improve the protein content and digestibility of the forage. Legume species like Vicia sativa, Vicia faba, cowpeas, mung beans etc. would be the best options for intercropping.

Six alfalfa cultivars including both winter-active and winter-dormant types from USA, Australia, and Afghanistan were evaluated for maximum yield potential. The results are presented in Table 2. The winter-active alfalfa cultivar Condor produced maximum forage and dry matter yields in two cuts and was closely followed both in forage and dry matter yield by the winter-dormant cultivar Ghanazvi. Since it was the first year of evaluation the cultivars had to establish root systems and produce nodules for soil fertility improvement. Therefore, to realize the exact yield potential, the data for yield should be recorded for at least for one more year and based on two years data, the potential cultivars should be selected for further seed multiplication and general cultivation on farmer’s fields.

Table 2. Green fodder and dry matter (hay) yields (tons/ha) of winter active and winter dormant alfalfa cultivars

Cultivars	Green Yield				Total		Hay Yield				Total
	Ist Cut		2nd Cut				Ist Cut		2nd Cut
Winter active Alfalfa
Sequel	15.4			11.00	26.40		3.10		4.00		7.10
Condor	22.50			11.00	33.50		5.20		3.10		8.30
Coronador	18.00			13.00	31.00		5.00		3.60		8.60
Aquaris	12.30			13.00	25.30		4.00		3.80		7.80
Average	17.05			12.00		29.05		4.33		3.63	7.95
Winter Dormant Alfalfa
Ghaznavi	16	14.00			30.00		5		4.0		9.00
Quandhari	12	5.00			17.00		2.3		1.8		4.10
Average	14	9.50			23.50		3.65		2.90		6.55

Similarly winter-active Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), particularly the New Zealand tetraploid Tama, and oats cultivars should be inter-cropped with alfalfa to enhance forage yields.

Brassica and berseem varieties have exhibited potential for maximum forage yields in the cooler regions of world. To realize the forage potential, two brassica and one berseem cultivars were also evaluated. The results are presented in Table 3. Both the brassica cultivars provided maximum yields as compared to the yields produced by oats and alfalfa cultivars. Also berseem produced higher yields than all the alfalfa cultivars. Looking at the yield potential of both the brassica and berseem cultivars, it is recommended that all the oats cultivars should be intercropped either with brassica or berseem cultivars to maximize forage yields. Also several brassica cultivars are available, therefore seed of more cultivars should also be evaluated for selection of desirable cultivars. Five rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars were compared by Brandle and McVetty (1988) for three years at nine locations in Manitoba, Canada. It was concluded that increasing years was most effective in reducing the standard error of a cultivar mean, followed by locations and replications.

Table 3. Green fodder and dry matter (hay) yields (tons/ha) of Brassica and Egyptian clover cultivars

Cultivars	Green Yield		Total	Hay Yield		Total
	Ist Cut	2nd Cut		Ist Cut	2nd Cut
Brassica Bumbled	71.2	18.60	89.80	35	9.14	44.14
Brassica Rainbow	69	11.40	80.40	34	5.62	39.62
Egyptian Clover	26.5	17.10	43.60	3.30	2.13	5.43

Two sunflower varieties were also evaluated for forage yield potential but the forage yields produced by both were not encouraging (Table 4). Some potential sources of other sunflower varieties should be identified and more should be evaluated for selection of the most desirable.

Table 4. Fodder yield (tons/ha.) of two Sunflower varieties

Varieties	Green Yield
Sunflower Parsun	15.00
Sunflower 9706 NARC	19.30

6. Recommendations:

6.1. Introduce more varieties of potential forage crops from Pakistan. Maintain an on-farm fodder evaluation programme in different agro-ecological regions for evaluation and selection of potential forage crops and cultivars under the guidance of a trained fodder scientist.

6.2. Decide on the best forages and cultivars for general use based on at least two year’s data, develop seed production stands where necessary and advise seed merchants/suppliers of potential production.

6.3. Develop legume based, fertility - building rotations to maximize fodder quantity and quality for milking goats, sheep, cows etc. and also to get rid of the infestation of dodder.

6.4. Devise feeding programmes for lambs and calves to increase early growth rates and for cows to enhance milk production to 15-20 litres/day.

7. References:

Bhatti, M. B., Hussain, A. and M. Dost. 1992. Fodder production potential of different oat cultivars under two cut systems. Pak. J. of Agric. Res. 13 (2): 184-90.

Brandle, J.E. and P.B.E. McVetty. 1988. Genotype X environment interaction and stability analysis of seed yield of oilseed rape grown in Manitoba. Can. J. Plant Sci.,63. 381-8.

Dost, M., Hussain, A., Khan, S. and M. B. Bhatti. 1994. Green forage yield, dry matter yield, and chemical composition of oat with advances in maturity. Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res. Vol 37, No. 5, May.

Dost, M. 1997. End of Assignment report on fodder component, PAK/86/027 FAO/UNDP Gilgit, Islamabad.