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| DOI：10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2025139 |
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| Effects of irrigation on alfalfa yield in arid and semi-arid regions of China: A meta-analysis |
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REN Huipeng, NING Songrui, YAN An
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1. State Key Laboratory of Water Engineering Ecology and Environment in Arid Area, Xi’an University of Technology,
Xi’an 710048, China; 2. College of Prataculture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
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| Abstract: |
| 【Background】Alfalfa is a key forage crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of China, where water availability is a major limiting factor for productivity. This paper aims to assess the effects of irrigation on alfalfa productivity in these regions.【Method】We analyzed publicly available alfalfa yield data under different irrigation treatments from 2000 to 2025 that met the inclusion criteria. Statistical and meta-analysis methods were used to explore the variations in annual yield and yields per cutting under different irrigation management practices.【Result】Annual alfalfa yield decreased with increasing latitude from 35° to 46° N. The mean annual yield of alfalfa in the 35°–39° N latitude zone was 33.96% and 40.05% higher than that in the 39o–43o N and 43o–46o N zones, respectively. For irrigation quotas in the range of 2 500 to 5 000 m3/hm2, the highest mean annual yield was 16 491 kg/hm2, and its average yield increase was by 58.90% (p＜0.05) compared to rainfed conditions. The yields of the first, second, and third cuttings increased as irrigation quota increased from 0 to 5 000 m3/hm2. When irrigation quota was the same, increasing cutting number reduced yield. Among all irrigation methods, drip irrigation resulted in the highest mean annual yield (15 425 kg/hm2) and an average yield increase of 67.30% (p＜0.05), compared to rainfed cultivation. Compared with flood and sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation achieved the highest yield for all cuttings, although the yield decreased progressively with increasing cutting number.【Conclusion】Sustaining high alfalfa yields in arid and semi-arid regions of China requires selecting suitable varieties for different latitude zones. Drip irrigation is most effective for the 35°–39° N and 39°–43° N zones, with optimal irrigation amounts of 3 830 and 2 152 m3/hm2, respectively. In the 43°–46° N zone, drip irrigation with an optimal irrigation amount of 5 227 m3/hm2 can ensure stable yield. These findings provide optimal irrigation strategies for improving alfalfa productivity in water-limited regions of China. |
| Key words: alfalfa cultivars; latitude; irrigation method; yield; cutting cycle; yield-increasing effect |
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