Introduction and experiment of some forages in arid sandy area,Yanchi Ningxia

Some forages were introduced from United States and China to comparatively study their adaptability,growing and production performance in arid sandy area of Yanchi,Ningxia,in order to select fine forages suitable for local cultivation. The results showed that for legumes,the Medirago sativa L. cv. Ningmu NO. 1,Medicago sativa L. cv. Zhongmu NO. 1 and Astragalus adsurgens Pall. had stronger adaptability and higher yield,which can be used as excellent forages fora large areas of the region. Melilotus suaveolens L. had the highest yield but the overwintering poor,which can be planted for crop rotation. For Gramineae,the Elymus cylindricus Franch.and Agropyron cristatum × A. desertorum cv. Mengnong had the stronger adaptability and higher yield,which can be planted in this area. Agropyron cristatum and Agropyron intermedia had low survival rate and ordinary adaptability and production performance,some measures should be taken to improve their survival rate. Trifoliurn repens L.,Medicago sativa L. cv. Golden Empress,Agropyon trachycaulum cv. Slender and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. are not suitable for planting in this area,because their adaptability is very poor.