Abstract
Enhancing alfalfa seed yield is essential for its comprehensive utilization in the forage, ecological, energy, and food sectors. Optimal irrigation and nutrient management are widely acknowledged as key factors in the arid and semiarid regions. However, the synergistic effects of drip irrigation and micronutrient application, particularly boron, on alfalfa seed production in these areas remain insufficiently understood. To address this gap, we conducted a three-year field experiment to investigate the impact of four irrigation frequencies (2, 3, 4, and 5 times, with 50 mm per application) and four boron concentrations (0, 0.3 %, 0.6 % and 0.9 %) on seed yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic benefits in alfalfa. Our results revealed a negative parabolic relationship between seed yield and both irrigation amount and boron concentration. The highest seed yields were achieved with three irrigations (150 mm) combined with a 0.6 % boron application, except for the year of 2021. In 2022and 2023, this optimal treatment resulted in seed yields of 931.28 kg/hm 2 and 983.98 kg/hm 2 , representing a 3.22-fold and 2.08-fold increase compared to the control, respectively. This treatment also produced the highest WUE, with an average value of 2.31 kg/hm 2 /mm from 2021 to 2023, reflecting a 2.92-fold increase over the control. Furthermore, seed yield exhibited a strong positive correlation with all key yield components ( P < 0.001). The structural equation model identified the number of reproductive branches per plant as the most significant contributor to seed yield. These findings provide valuable insights into the effects of irrigation and boron application on alfalfa seed yield and offer practical guidance for optimizing agronomic practices aimed at improving seed production in alfalfa and similar crops. • Seed yield exhibited a negative parabolic relationship with irrigation and boron levels. • The optimal treatment enhanced water use efficiency and economic returns. • The key factor affecting alfalfa seed yield was the number of reproductive branches per plant.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Seed yield of alfalfa had a negative parabolic relationship with irrigation amount and boron concentration.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativat1 - Treatment
- irrigation amount and boron concentratione0
- Outcome
- seed yielde0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“Our results revealed a negative parabolic relationship between seed yield and both irrigation amount and boron concentration”
Claim · model-written summary
The highest seed yields were achieved with three irrigations (150 mm) plus 0.6 % boron, except in 2021.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- three irrigations (150 mm) combined with a 0.6 % boron applicatione0
- Outcome
- seed yieldse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Qualifier
- except for the year of 2021e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“The highest seed yields were achieved with three irrigations (150 mm) combined with a 0.6 % boron application, except for the year of 2021”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2022, the optimal treatment gave seed yield of 931.28 kg/hm 2, a 3.22-fold increase over the control.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- this optimal treatmente0
- Outcome
- seed yieldse0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 931.28 kg/hm 2e0
- Qualifier
- 3.22-folde0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“In 2022and 2023, this optimal treatment resulted in seed yields of 931.28 kg/hm 2 and 983.98 kg/hm 2 , representing a 3.22-fold and 2.08-fold increase compared to the control, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2023, the optimal treatment gave seed yield of 983.98 kg/hm 2, a 2.08-fold increase over the control.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- this optimal treatmente0
- Outcome
- seed yieldse0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 983.98 kg/hm 2e0
- Qualifier
- 2.08-folde0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“In 2022and 2023, this optimal treatment resulted in seed yields of 931.28 kg/hm 2 and 983.98 kg/hm 2 , representing a 3.22-fold and 2.08-fold increase compared to the control, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
The optimal treatment gave the highest water use efficiency, averaging 2.31 kg/hm 2 /mm from 2021 to 2023.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- This treatmente0
- Outcome
- WUEe0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 2.31 kg/hm 2 /mme0
- Qualifier
- from 2021 to 2023e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“This treatment also produced the highest WUE, with an average value of 2.31 kg/hm 2 /mm from 2021 to 2023, reflecting a 2.92-fold increase over the control”
Claim · model-written summary
The optimal treatment raised water use efficiency by a 2.92-fold increase over the control.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- This treatmente0
- Outcome
- WUEe0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 2.92-folde0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“This treatment also produced the highest WUE, with an average value of 2.31 kg/hm 2 /mm from 2021 to 2023, reflecting a 2.92-fold increase over the control”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed yield had a strong positive correlation with all key yield components.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Outcome
- seed yielde0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Qualifier
- P < 0.001e0
- Comparator
- all key yield componentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“Furthermore, seed yield exhibited a strong positive correlation with all key yield components ( P < 0.001)”
Claim · model-written summary
The structural equation model identified the number of reproductive branches per plant as the most significant contributor to seed yield.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Outcome
- seed yielde0
- Qualifier
- the number of reproductive branches per plant as the most significant contributore0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e0“The structural equation model identified the number of reproductive branches per plant as the most significant contributor to seed yield”
Claim · model-written summary
The optimal treatment enhanced economic returns.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat1
- Treatment
- optimal treatmente1
- Outcome
- economic returnse1
- Direction
- enhancede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t1“alfalfa in Northwest China”
e1“The optimal treatment enhanced water use efficiency and economic returns”
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See all 92 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.