Comparison and analysis of production performance and nutritional value of 13 alfalfa varieties in the Cangzhou saline-alkali area

A comparative field performance and nutritional value experiment of 13 alfalfa varieties was conducted from 2018－2021 to select Medicago sativa varieties suitable for the Cangzhou saline-alkali area. In this study, the stem-to-leaf ratio, plant height, hay yield, and nine indicators of nutritional value were measured for four consecutive years using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Then the dataset was analyzed using the grey correlative system to assess varieties comprehensively. Results showed that ‘WL363HQ’ had many leaves, and its stem-to-leaf ratio was the lowest. The plant height of ‘WL298HQ’ was the highest. There was no significant difference between ‘MF4020’, ‘Zhongmu No. 3’, and ‘Magnum-salt’ (P > 0.05). The hay yield of ‘Zhongmu No.3’ was the highest, with an average of 14 092.65 kg·ha⁻¹ over four years. The contents of crude protein, crude ash, and phosphorus of ‘Zhongmu No.3’ were the highest at 26.57%, 10.43%, and 0.44%, respectively. The value of in vitro dry matter digestibility of ‘Zhongmu No.3’ was the highest at 81.98%. The crude fat and calcium contents of ‘Concept’ were the highest at 2.33% and 1.96%, respectively. The acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents of ‘Concept’ were the lowest at 27.93% and 33.20%. The digestible neutral detergent fiber content of ‘Magnum-salt’ was the highest at 24.46%. All indicators of ‘MF4020’ were close to the average values. The comprehensive analysis results show that ‘Zhongmu No.3’, ‘Concept’, and ‘MF4020’ performed the best in the Cangzhou saline-alkali area, with the potential for more extensive use as a pasture crop in the region.