Setaria viridis （L.） P. Beauv， a widely adaptable herbaceous plant distributed throughout China， possesses significant ecological and forage value. Due to its notable stress tolerance and its role as an important model plant， Setaria viridis has attracted wide interest in recent years. This article reviews research findings on the biological characteristics， genetic diversity， ecological value， and cultivar development of Setaria viridis， and offers perspectives for further research. It will provide theoretical references for the development， utilization， and breeding of new Setaria viridis varieties.

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual-carbon” strategy and the advancement of ecological civilization， scientific assessment of the ecosystem service values and the realization of ecological product value have becomeacritical approach to harmonize ecological protection and economic development. As the dominant type of grassland ecosystem in China， temperate grasslands play crucial roles in carbon sequestration， water conservation， wind erosion control， and biodiversity maintenance. This article systematically reviews the research progress and methodological framework in economic valuation of temperate grassland ecosystem services， both in China and internationally. The applicability and limitations of major models were compared， and deficiencies in current Chinese research regarding data precision， parameter localization， service coverage， and policy integration were analyzed. This review proposes that future research should focus on constructing multi-scale integrated assessment frameworks， improving model localization and data sharing mechanisms， and strengthening the integration between assessment results and policies such as ecological compensation， GEP accounting， carbon trading， etc.， thereby forming the closed-loop mechanism of “Assessment-Accounting-Compensation-Feedback”. This study aims to provide theoretical foundation and decision support for valuing temperate grassland ecosystem services and realizing the value of ecological products.

Nitrogenase is the key enzyme driving the natural nitrogen cycle， as it catalyzes the conversion of inert dinitrogen （N₂） into bioavailable ammonia （NH₃）. The most extensively studied nitrogenases， molybdenum nitrogenase （Mo-nitrogenase） and vanadium nitrogenase （V-nitrogenase）， differ significantly in their structure， catalytic properties， and environmental responses. Structurally， V-nitrogenase contains a unique δ subunit and has distinct encoding genes compared to Mo-nitrogenase. For catalytic mechanisms， Mo-nitrogenase exhibits higher specificity for N₂ reduction， whereas V-nitrogenase demonstrates broader substrate range and reduces alternative substrates such as acetylene. Furthermore， the two enzymes exhibit different sensitivity to carbon monoxide （CO）： Mo-nitrogenase is easily inhibited by CO， while V-nitrogenase can reduce CO even under high concentrations. These differences shape their functional performance in diverse environments. By systematically illustrating the structural， catalytic， and environmental differences between these nitrogenases， this study deepens the understanding of dynamic biological nitrogen fixation. The findings provide a critical theoretical basis for optimizing nitrogen management in grassland agriculture and offer guidance for the restoration of degraded ecosystems， such as grasslands， forests， and deserts.

Salt stress leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in plants， causing damage to plant cells. However， the enzymatic antioxidant system is responsible for scavenging ROS in plant cells and protecting cells from ROS damage. At present， there are few functional analyses of genes related to ROS-scavenging enzymes in alfalfa （Medicago sativa） in response to salt stress. Based on the transcriptome data of roots and leaves of salt-tolerant alfalfa cultivar （GIB） and salt-sensitive cultivar （LS） under salt stress， this study identified 28 differentially expressed genes related to ROS-scavenging. Twenty-eight genes are distributed on 19 chromosomes， belonging to five gene families： MsGST， MsPOD， MsAOX， MsGRX and MsPrdx， among which MsGST （12） and MsPOD （11） families account for the largest proportion. The physicochemical properties of ROS scavenging enzyme proteins were different among the members of each gene family. There were highly similar conserved motifs in the members of the gene family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MsGSTUs and MsPODs were located in the branches defined by Tau and AtPERs in Arabidopsis thaliana， respectively， suggesting that they had similar evolutionary processes and similar functions.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of MsGSTU26， MsPOD2 and MsPOD4 genes in GIB leaves under salt stress were significantly higher than those in LS， and the promoter regions of the three genes had elements （G-box and CGTCA-motif） related to adverse stress. It indicated that the MsGSTU26， MsPOD2 and MsPOD4 genes may be involved in the regulation of the adaptability of GIB and LS to salt stress.

Smart prataculture represents a vital component of modern agriculture and serves as a key strategy for promoting sustainable agricultural development and advancing the initiative “Big Food View” in China. As global challenges such as climate change and land degradation intensify， traditional grassland management models are increasing unable to meet the requirements of modernization. The integration of artificial intelligence （AI） technologies presents unprecedented opportunities for the advancement of prataculture， greatly enhancing the efficiency， precision， and intelligence of grassland management. AI-driven smart prataculture employs cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning， deep learning， big data analytics， and the Internet of Things （loT）. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis， these technologies enable real-time monitoring， precise prediction， and adaptive management of grassland growth， resource allocation， and livestock production. While the application of AI demonstrates substantial potential in optimizing grassland productivity， ecological restoration， and livestock health monitoring， significant challenges remain in data collection， technological dissemination， infrastructure development， talent cultivation， economic feasibility， and policy support. In the future， continued innovation in AI technologies and the integration of interdisciplinary approaches are expected to accelerate the intelligent transformation of prataculture in China. This evolution will promote comprehensive intelligence， precision， and transparency across the entire industry chain， from production and ecological protection to resource utilization and market systems， thereby providing new insights for the sustainable development of smart agriculture.

Silage is a critical component of livestock diets in China and worldwide due to its high nutritional value and palatability. However， silage is highly susceptible to contamination by harmful fungi， leading to reduced quality， resource loss， and potential risks to both animal and human health during feeding. This review summarizes current knowledge on the major harmful fungi associated with silage and outlines corresponding control strategies. The objective is to enhance silage quality， safeguard feed safety， and support the sustainable， green， and high-quality development of the livestock industry.

With the continued development of the livestock industry and the growing imbalance between feed supply and demand, the utilization of crop straw as feed has become an important strategy for ensuring feed security and promoting sustainable agriculture. However, the inherent characteristics of crop straw, including high fiber content, low protein level, and structural recalcitrance, severely restrict its efficient utilization as animal feed. Microbial fermentation technologies, mainly silage fermentation and microbial pretreatment, can effectively degrade fiber, improve nutritional composition, and enhance palatability and digestibility through microbial metabolic activities, and have therefore become key biological approaches for promoting the feed utilization of crop straw. This review systematically summarized recent research progress and practical applications of microbial fermentation in the feed conversion of major crop straws, including maize, rice, wheat, soybean, peanut, sweet potato, and sunflower. Particular attention was given to differences in physicochemical properties among straw types and to corresponding fermentation strategies, including single material silage, mixed silage, and combined microbial and enzyme treatments. In addition, the review discussed the regulation of key fermentation parameters, the mechanisms underlying improvements in nutritional quality, and the effects of fermented straw feed on ruminant production performance and economic benefits. Current challenges in practical application were also highlighted, including limited adaptability of microbial inoculants, low process standardization, instability in large scale production, and insufficient monitoring methods. Future research should focus on developing highly efficient microbial agents tailored to specific straw types, clarifying the synergistic mechanisms between microorganisms and enzymes, advancing intelligent and standardized fermentation technologies, and establishing integrated industrial chain models. These efforts will provide systematic support for technological innovation and large scale application in straw feed utilization, and will contribute to the development of grain saving livestock production systems and a circular agricultural economy.

To clarify the impact of wind turbines on biodiversity and soil properties of grasslands， this study took a wind power area with wind turbines installed and operated for 15 years in the temperate meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia as the research area， and selected a grassland without wind turbines as the control area. The plant community， insect community， soil microorganisms， and soil physical and chemical properties in the area were investigated， and the relationships among these factors were analyzed. The results showed that compared with the grassland in the control area， the vegetation coverage， aboveground biomass， and community diversity of the grassland in the wind power area decreased significantly （P<0.05）. The number of insects in the wind power area increased significantly （P<0.05）， but the diversity of the insect community decreased significantly （P<0.05）. The number of soil fungi and community diversity in the wind power area were all significantly reduced （P<0.05）.Soil moisture content， bulk density， total nitrogen， ammonium nitrogen， alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen， total phosphorus， and total potassium in the wind power area were all significantly reduced （P<0.05）. Correlation analysis found that there was a significant relationship between soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities. Overall， during the operation period of wind power stations， it will cause the degradation of grassland plant communities， the loss of soil nutrients and reduce plant diversity， and lead to a homogenization of the insect community structure.

To investigate the growth adaptability of ten forage oat （Avena sativa L.） varieties in continuous alfalfa replanting fields in the northeastern Ordos and to identify high-quality varieties suitable for multiple cropping， ten representative forage oat varieties were selected based on preliminary screening. A randomized block design was employed to analyze and compare their growth period， agronomic performance， and nutritional quality. Partial least squares path model （PLS-PM） was further applied to examine the effects of varieties and harvest date on agronomic traits and forage quality， while the grey relational analysis method was used for comprehensive evaluation. The results showed that varieties reached the milk stage in approximately 70-80 days in the northeastern region of Ordos. Among varieties， ‘Sun God’ and ‘Yellow Oat’ exhibited significantly greater plant height （121.44 cm and 114.31 cm， respectively； P<0.05）. ‘White Oat No.7’ produced the highest hay yield （9414.79 kg/hm²）， followed by ‘Yellow Oat’ （9130.31 kg/hm²）， both significantly exceeding other varieties （P<0.05）. ‘Aiwo 256’ had the highest crude protein （CP） content （12.14% DM）， significantly higher than ‘Qingyin No.1’ and ‘Leader （Surui）’ （P<0.05）. ‘White Oat No.7’ showed significant lower acid detergent fiber （ADF） and neutral detergent fiber （NDF） contents than most varieties， except ‘Qinghai 444’ and ‘Qingyin No. 2’ （P<0.05）. Except for ‘Qingyin 2’，the potassium （K） content of ‘White Oat No.7’ was significantly lower than that of all other varieties， while its relative forage quality （RFQ） was significantly higher than those of other varieties （P<0.05）. Across harvest dates， oats harvested on September 9th exhibited significantly greater plant height， hay yield， dry-to-fresh ratio， and RFQ， while CP， ADF， and K content were significantly lower compared to earlier harvests （P<0.05）. In contrast， oats harvested on August 21st had higher CP， ADF and K contents but lower plant height， hay yield， dry-to-fresh ratio， and RFQ. Grey relational analysis identified CP， NDF， and hay yield as key indicators for evaluating forage oat productivity. Overall， ‘White Oat No.7’ and ‘Yellow Oat’ demonstrated superior performance and were recommended for re-cultivation after alfalfa cutting in the northeastern Ordos.

Fertilization is a key strategy for restoring degraded grasslands. To identify suitable nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） fertilization gradients for enhancing the productivity and soil characteristics of degraded alpine meadows， a lightly degraded alpine meadow in Dangxiong County， Xizang Autonomous Region， was selected for study. A two-factor randomized block design was employed， with four nitrogen levels （N0：0 kg N/hm²， N1：60 kg N/hm²， N2：90 kg N/hm²， N3：120 kg N/hm²） and four phosphorus levels （P0：0 kg P₂O₅/hm²， P1：30 kg P₂O₅/hm²， P2：60 kg P₂O₅/hm²， P3：90 kg P₂O₅/hm²）， resulting in 16 N-P treatments combinations， with N0P0 treatment serving as the control （CK）. Grassland productivity and soil characteristics were evaluated to determine the optimal N-P combinations. The results showed that the combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers significantly enhanced aboveground biomass compared with the control， with the N2P2 and N2P3 treatments increasing biomass by 136.9% and 111.9%， respectively （P<0.05）. The combined application also improved soil organic carbon content， particularly in the 0-10 cm soil layer， where the N2P1 and N2P3 treatments reached 15.67 g/kg and 15.26 g/kg， respectively. Available phosphorus content was highest under N2P3 treatment in both 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers， while total nitrogen content was greatest under N3P1 treatment. Grey correlation analysis of aboveground biomass and soil characteristics （0-10 cm） indicated that N2P3 treatment provided the most favorable comprehensive improvement in productivity and soil nutrient status， followed by N3P3 treatment. Therefore， the combination of 90-120 kg/hm² nitrogen fertilizer with 90 kg/hm² phosphorus fertilizer is recommended as the optimal strategy for the restoration of degraded alpine meadows in Dangxiong County， Xizang Autonomous Region.

Overgrazing will destroy grassland， aggravate vegetation degradation， and induce soil wind erosion. In this study， wind erosion monitoring was conducted on Stipabreviflora desert steppe under different grazing intensity （CK: control， LG: light grazing， MG: moderate grazing， HG: heavy grazing）. Plant community coverage was also measured to explore the patterns of aeolian sediment flux at sand collection height of 0-120 cm aboveground and its relationship with vegetation under different grazing intensities. The results showed that during the growing season of Stipa breviflora desert steppe： (1) Under different grazing intensities， the plant community coverage from May to October demonstrated the pattern of CK>LG>MG>HG. Under the same grazing intensity， it initially increased then decreased. (2) With the increase of grazing intensity， the total aeolian sediment flux rose gradually， with the value under LG， MG and HG reaching 1.40， 1.82， and 1.95 times of that under CK， respectively. (3) There was a significant negative correlation between plant community coverage and total aeolian sediment flux across all grazing intensities （P<0.05）. (4) The functional relationship among grazing intensity （G）， plant community coverage （C）， and total aeolian sediment flux （Q） was constructed： Q=（0.003 5G²－0.020 2G－0.032 7） C+（-0.251 2G²+1.478G+2.463 6）. The goodness of fit （R²） of plant community coverage and total aeolian sediment flux in CK， LG and MG was greater than 0.9， indicating high goodness-of-fit， while R² of HG was only 0.54， which offers a more integrated solution by striking a viable balance between aeolian sediment flux reduction and herder livelihood needs.Despite ideal windbreak and sand fixation performance of the CK and LG treatments， the MG treatment integrated the requirement of grassland ecosystem multifunctional role on aeolian sediment flux bloking and livelihood needs of herdsmen. This finding provides a scientific basis for exploring ecological protection and resource utilization in desert steppe， and has important practical value for establishing a sustainable and coordinated human-land grassland management framework.

Ecosystem services （ES） and ecological risk （ER） respectively represent the capacity of ecosystems to support human well-being and the potential for degradation under external disturbances. In recent years， the cumulative impacts of glacier retreat， permafrost degradation， and grassland deterioration have led to a decline in ES and an increase in ER on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Therefore， exploring the coupling relationship between ES and ER on the Plateau is of great importance for accurately identifying ecological degradation processes， improving regional ecological resilience， and supporting effective environmental management. Based on remote sensing and statistical data from 2000 to 2020， this study evaluated important ES indicators and constructed an ER assessment framework using the InVEST model and landscape ecological risk assessment methods. The results showed that： （1） From 2000 to 2020， mean annual grassland productivity increased from 91.63 g/m² to 107.52 g/m²， while carbon storage declined from 6 571.73 Mg to 5 897.60 Mg. Water yield decreased from 122.10 mm to 86.55 mm in 2015 and rebounded to 110.71 mm in 2020. Habitat quality declined from 0.51 to 0.45， and soil conservation showed periodic fluctuations， ranging between 33 391.59 g/m² and 25 772.08 g/m². （2） The overall ER level showed a slight decline， but high-risk areas still accounted for over 19%， primarily concentrated in ecologically fragile zones such as Kekexili， the Qiangtang Plateau， and the Qaidam Basin. （3） Correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between ER and both grassland productivity （R² = -0.66， P < 0.05） and habitat quality （R² = -0.73， P < 0.05）. Carbon storage， water yield， and soil conservation also exhibited moderate negative correlations， suggesting that ER exerts an overall inhibitory effect on ES.

This study investigated the effects of variety and planting density on the agronomic traits and yield of silage maize （Zea mays）， and aimed to identify optimal variety-density combinations to alleviate the silage forage supply-demand imbalance in Yuyang District， Shaanxi Province. Growth characteristics and yield performance of 10 varieties were evaluated under three planting densities （82 500， 90 000， and 97 500 plants/hm²）， and comprehensive evaluation was conducted using Grey Relational Analysis （GRA）. Results showed that variety had a significant effect on plant height （P<0.01）， with the plant heights of both Xianda 6331 and Zhongnongda 787 exceeding 320 cm. Both the leaf area index and light interception rate increased significantly with increasing planting density （P<0.01） and were positively correlated with each other （P<0.001）. The fresh forage yield was the highest under 90 000 plants/hm². Comprehensive analysis with GRA identified varieties Zhongnongda 787， Lilong 915， and Jingke 627 as the top varieties. In conclusion， an optimal planting density of 90 000 plants/hm² is recommended for Yuyang District， with Zhongnongda 787 and Lilong 915 as suitable varieties. This provides theoretical and technical support for efficient silage maize production in this region.

Using 370 Agropyron germplasms as experimental materials, this study systematically investigated their genetic diversity using 31 phenotypic traits and multiple statistical methods, including coefficient of variation, genetic diversity index, cluster analysis, correlation analysis, and grey relational analysis. Additionally, QGA software was employed to simulate and analyze genetic distance, sampling ratio, and clustering algorithms to determine optimal parameters for core germplasm construction. The effectiveness of the core subset was verified through principal component analysis and genetic diversity parameters. Results indicated significant phenotypic differentiation and rich genetic diversity in Agropyron germplasms. Quantitative traits (23 in total, with an average diversity index of 1.867) served as the primary carriers of genetic diversity, with their genetic diversity index was significantly higher than that of qualitative traits (1.328). Phenotypic correlations revealed a "source-sink-flow" coordinated development mechanism: leaves and stems exhibited coordinated growth; spike length was positively correlated with spikelet and floret numbers but negatively correlated with spikelet density, providing a basis for ecological adaptive breeding. Cluster analysis categorized the materials into three characteristic germplasm types: Type Ⅰ (24 resources, characterized by tall plants, long roots, and long spikes), Type Ⅱ (123 resources, emphasizing spike and leaf development), and Type Ⅲ (223 resources, with high spikelet density and numerous glume veins). Grey relational analysis identified seven core evaluation indicators: spikelet number, florets per spike, spike width, first rachis internode length, leaf color, leaf sheath length, and second internode stem diameter. Fifteen comprehensively excellent materials (GB3, BB34, MB15, BB55, XB6, MB25, MB32, GB11, MB7, SB55, SB52, BB68, XB3, BB110, XB2) were selected. A core germplasm consisting of 92 accessions was constructed using "Mahalanobis distance+deviation sampling+sum of squared deviations+25% sampling ratio." This core subset included all 15 excellent materials, achieving an organic unity of genetic diversity conservation (MD=0, CR=100%) and superior trait screening (VD=41.935%, VR=115.413%). Principal component analysis confirmed high consistency between the core germplasm and the original population in genetic structure (core germplasm cumulative contribution rate: 73.014%; original population: 64.407%). This study integrates phenotypic diversity analysis, grey relational evaluation, and core germplasm construction techniques, providing theoretical basis and material support for the efficient utilization and genetic improvement of Agropyron germplasm resources.

This study investigated the effects of companion crops on forage growth and soil physicochemical properties during the first year of establishing a perennial alpine mixed grassland （Elymus breviaristatus ‘Tongde’ and Puccinellia tenuiflora ‘Tongde’） on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The impacts of Brassica napus， Vicia faba， and Avena sativa at sowing rates of 10%， 30%， and 50% of their respective monoculture amounts were assessed. Aboveground biomass， belowground biomass， forage nutritional quality， and soil physicochemical properties were measured. The results showed that companion crops significantly improved forage productivity， nutritive value， soil moisture， and nutrients availability compared with the control. The 50% Vicia faba treatment yield the greatest benefits， significantly enhancing aboveground biomass （321.83%）， belowground biomass （56.29%）， crude protein （132.22%）， ether extract （52.75%）， and relative feeding value （126.80%）， as well as soil moisture （14.35%）， total nitrogen （57.58%）， ammonium nitrogen （301.49%）， and nitrate nitrogen （185.00%）. Structural equation modeling indicated that soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents were the primary drivers of forage biomass， nutritional quality， and soil physicochemical properties. A comprehensive Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution （TOPSIS） evaluation further identified the 50% Vicia faba treatment as the optimal companion crop strategy for establishing perennial alpine mixed grasslands on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

In order to explore potassium-solubilizing microbial resources and investigate their effects on alfalfa （Medicago sativa） growth， this study isolated and screened potassium-solubilizing bacteria （KSB） with strong potassium-solubilizing ability from the rhizosphere soil of alfalfa using selective media. The potassium-solubilizing， phosphate-solubilizing， and indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）-producing capabilities of these strains were measured， and their identities were confirmed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Subsequently， pot experiments were conducted using the selected superior strains to validate their impact on alfalfa growth. The results demonstrated that 21 KSB strains were isolated and screened from the alfalfa rhizosphere， among which 10 exhibited potassium-solubilizing activity， with solubilized potassium levels ranging from 1.57 to 7.96 μg/mL and solubilization rates ranging from 12.07% to 57.50%. Five strains （jk6-5、jk20-1、jk20-2、jk20-3 and jk20-8） with high potassium-solubilizing activity also demonstrated IAA production and phosphate-solubilizing abilities. Their IAA secretion levels ranged from 9.60 to 11.77 μg/mL， while inorganic phosphate solubilization ranged from 2.84 to 173.96 μg/mL， and organic phosphate solubilization from 35.34 to 62.55 μg/mL. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing， strains jk20-8， jk20-1， and jk20-2 were identified as Pantoea ananatis， strain jk20-3 belonged to the Paenibacillus hordei group， and strain jk6-5 was identified as Priestia megaterium. Inoculation of the superior strains jk20-8， jk20-3， and jk6-5 into alfalfa significantly increased plant height， root length， aboveground biomass， underground biomass， and nitrogen （N）， potassium（K）， and phosphorus （P） contents in plants. Additionally， soil available N， available P， available K， and organic matter contents were enhanced， with strain jk20-8 exhibiting the most pronounced growth-promoting effects. In conclusion， the potassium-solubilizing strain jk20-8 serves as a promising candidate for developing potassium-solubilizing microbial fertilizers.

This study investigated the efficacy of exogenous 2，4-epibrassinolide （2，4-EBR） in mitigating saline-alkali stress during seed germination and seedling growth of quinoa （Chenopodium quinoa Willd.‘Longli 1’）. Seeds were treated with various concentrations （0， 0.05， 0.1， 0.2， 0.4， 0.8， 1.5 and 2 mg/L） of 2，4-EBR and exposed to a range of simulated saline-alkali stress conditions. Principal component analysis and membership function method were used to comprehensively evaluate the physiological and biochemical indicators of quinoa under different saline-alkali stresses and different 2，4-EBR treatments. The results demonstrated that both single salt stress and mixed saline-alkali stress significantly inhibited the germination of quinoa seeds and the growth of seedlings. Exogenous application of 2，4-epibrassinolide （2，4-EBR） at concentrations of 0.05-2 mg/L effectively enhanced quinoa's osmotic adjustment capacity， alleviated oxidative damage induced by saline-alkali stress， and thereby improved its saline-alkali tolerance. Additionally， comprehensive evaluation analysis indicated that 0.2 mg/L 2，4-EBR exhibited the optimal alleviating effect on mixed saline-alkali stress； 0.4 mg/L 2，4-EBR proved the most effective for single salt stresses （NaCl and NaHCO₃）； and 0.8 mg/L 2，4-EBR was optimal for single salt stresses induced by Na₂SO₄ and Na₂CO₃.

Grassland ecosystems have undergone severe degradation and shrub encroachment due to climatic drought and overgrazing. Water availability is the principal limiting factor regulating vegetation dynamics in these grassland ecosystems， with precipitation acting as the dominant water input that directly governs the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil moisture. Grazing， the main land-use practice in grasslands， interacts with precipitation to influence soil moisture dynamics and vertical distribution， thereby shaping competition between species with contrasting root architectures （e.g.， shrubs vs. grasses） and ultimately affecting ecosystem stability. This study reviewed the differential responses of upper and lower soil layers to precipitation during growing and non-growing seasons， and examined the combined impacts of overgrazing and precipitation on vertical soil moisture dynamics. The results showed that growing-season precipitation primarily enhanced soil moisture in the upper 0-30 cm， with limited effects on deeper layer （> 30 cm）. In contrast， non-growing-season precipitation increased post-thaw soil moisture in upper or lower layers， though findings varied regionally. Overgrazing significantly decreased soil moisture in the 0-30 cm layer during both growing and non-growing seasons， while its influence below 30 cm remained inconsistent. Compared with the growing season， non-growing-season precipitation regulated by freeze-thaw processes exhibited more complex effects on soil moisture vertical dynamics， yet remained poorly understood. Future studies should prioritize： （1） elucidating the mechanisms by which non-growing-season precipitation affects soil moisture distribution across diverse grassland ecosystems； （2） analysing grazing-precipitation interactions on vertical soil moisture variation， especially below 30 cm during the non-growing season. Advancing knowledge will provide a theoretical basis for understanding shrub encroachment mechanisms and for improving the management of soil hydro-ecological processes in grasslands.

Heat shock transcription factors （HSFs） play crucial roles in plant growth and development， as well as in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study， we identified the MruHSF gene family in Medicago ruthenica using genomic data and conducted bioinformatic analyses. The expression patterns of MruHSF gene under drought stress were comprehensively analyzed through transcriptomic data and quantitative real-time PCR （qRT-PCR）， preliminarily exploring their potential roles in drought stress responses. The results showed that 27 MruHSF family members， with encoded proteins ranging from 97 to 505 amino acids （aa）， isoelectric points （pI） between 4.64 and 8.72， and molecular weights of 10 998.3 to 55 296.45 Da. Except for three unassigned gene， the remaining MruHSF genes were distributed across eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into three evolutionary clades. Conserved motif analysis revealed that all MruHSF proteins except MruHSF02， MruHSF03， and MruHSF27 contained Motifs 1， 2， and 4， which were highly conserved in M. ruthenica HSF protein. Additionally， multiple cis-acting elements related to hormone response， light response， and abiotic stress were identified in the promoter regions of MruHSF genes. Expression analysis shows that MruHSF01， MruHSF08， MruHSF13， MruHSF16， and MruHSF22 exhibited significant differential expression under drought stress， suggesting their potential roles in the drought response mechanism of M. ruthenica.

To identify suitable forage oat cultivars and determine the optimal cutting stage for saline alkali soils in the Hetao Irrigation District, 14 domestic and foreign forage oat cultivars were evaluated. Differences in yield, forage quality, and digestibility characteristics were analyzed across different growth stages, and comprehensive screening was conducted using grey relational analysis. The results showed that plant height differed significantly among cultivars and growth stages, and all cultivars exhibited an "S" shaped growth curve. In terms of cultivar main effects, fresh forage yield and hay yield ranged from 21 451.67 to 38 916.53 kg/hm² and from 5 620.76 to 8 359.18 kg/hm², respectively. The crude protein (CP) contents of the ‘Leader’ (Souris), ‘Baler’ and ‘Baler No.2’ exceeded 10.00% of dry matter (DM) and were significantly higher than those of other varieties except ‘Yellow oat’. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents of ‘Baler’, ‘Baler No.2’, and ‘Yellow oat’ was significantly lower than those of most other varieties, except ‘Leader’ (Souris). The acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of ‘Leader’ (Souris), ‘Baler’, and ‘Baler No. 2’ were significantly lower than those of other cultivars, except ‘Yellow oat’, while acid detergent lignin (ADL) content was lowest in ‘Haymaker’, ‘Baler’, and ‘Helios’. ‘Haymaker’ had the highest ether extract (EE) content. Regarding cutting stage, hay yield and dry to fresh ratio followed the order milk stage > flowering stage > heading stage. At the flowering stage, fresh forage yield and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content were highest, while CP, dNDF₃₀, dNDF₄₈, NDFD₃₀, NDFD₄₈, IVTDMD₃₀, and IVTDMD₄₈ were second only to those at the heading stage. ADL content was also significantly lower at flowering than at the milk stage. The relative feed quality (RFQ) values of ‘Haymaker’ and ‘Baler’ were significantly higher than those of all other cultivars except ‘Leader’ (Souris). Gray relational analysis showed that NDF, IVTDMD₄₈, ash, dNDF₃₀, and IVTDMD₃₀ ranked as the top five weighted indicators. Both equal weight and weighted correlation degrees ranked ‘Baler’, ‘Haymaker’, and ‘Leader’ (Souris) among the top three cultivars. In conclusion, NDF was the primary indicator for evaluating the production performance of forage oats in saline alkali soils of the Hetao Irrigation District. ‘Baler’, ‘Haymaker’, and ‘Leader’ (Souris) showed the best overall performance and were suitable for cultivation in this region. The flowering stage provided the best comprehensive production performance and was recommended at the optimal cutting stage.

This study aimed to explore the impacts of salt stress on the photosynthetic characteristics and sugar metabolism of Astragalus cicer seedlings. A. cicer cultivar ‘Gan Green No. 2’ was treated by 120 mmol/L NaCl solution as salt stress simulation. Sampling was conducted at 0， 1， 3， 5， 7， 14， and 21 days after stress applied for relevant indices measurement. The results indicated that salt stress induced stomatal closure in the leaves of A. cicer seedlings resulting in reduced stomatal conductance reduction and impairment of the photosynthetic system. Simultaneously， the chlorophyll content， net photosynthesis rate， transpiration rate， actual photochemical efficiency， apparent photosynthetic electron transport rate （ETR）， and photochemical quenching coefficient were significantly decreased. However， the contents of sucrose， fructose， and glucose exhibited trends of increasing initially followed by declining. Moreover， the intercellular CO₂ concentration， non-photochemical quenching coefficient （NPQ）， starch content， sucrose synthase （SS） activity， and activities of soluble acid invertase （SAI） and neutral invertase （NI） increased and eventually stabilized with treatment time prolonged. In contrast， the sucrose phosphate synthase activity （SPS） gradually exhibited a decreasing trend. Correlation analysis demonstrated that soluble sugars content were closely related to photosynthetic parameters， suggesting that sugars may play a crucial role in regulating of photosynthesis and plant light use efficiency. Starch content was positively correlated with NPQ， indicating that starch may be involved in regulating photoprotection and energy dissipation. In conclusion， salt stress tolerance of A. cicer seedlings can be enhanced by regulating sugar metabolism-related enzyme activities and photosynthetic system， leading to increased soluble sugar and NPQ levels. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the growth and physiological mechanisms of A. cicer in saline-alkaline soils.

This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of harvesting activities in Dongting Lake （South China） and their effects on Miscanthus lutarioriparius using multi-source satellite remote sensing data from 2015 to 2023. An object-oriented classification approach was applied to extract spatial distribution patterns based on vegetation spectral characteristics. Harvesting area （hectares） and landscape metrics were quantified through spatial and landscape pattern analyses in ArcGIS 10.7 and Fragstats 4.2. The results showed that the harvested area and harvest rate of Miscanthus lutarioriparius peaked in 2015 （57686.06 hm²； 55.69%） and declined to their lowest levels in 2019 （3743.21 hm²； 4.59%）. Following policy adjustments after 2018， harvesting intensity decreased， with spatial shifts toward the southern and eastern Lake regions， reflecting a northeastward migration trend. While early harvesting exhibited no preference for patch size， later mechanization promoted harvesting in large， contiguous Miscanthus lutarioriparius， reducing costs and improving efficiency. Correlation analyses indicate that harvesting maintained community aggregation and total area but altered shape complexity and spatial cohesion. These findings suggest that strategic planning of harvesting activities is essential to stabilize Miscanthus lutarioriparius populations， prevent further decline， and support wetland ecosystem. Expanding harvesting ranges may provide a pathway to achieving ecological and economic synergy for this species.

Leymus racemosus (Lam.) Tzvel is a perennial tetraploid herbaceous species in the Triticeae tribe of the Poaceae family, exhibiting both high disease resistance and stress tolerance. This species not only serves as an excellent ecological grass for sand fixation, but also hold broad application prospects in wheat disease resistance breeding and ecological management in the desert regions of Northwest China. This article provides a systematic review of Chinese and international research on L. racemosus, including aspects such as germplasm distribution, morphological characteristics, genetic traits, stress tolerance mechanisms, wheat breeding, and forage resource utlization. Given the current status of breeding, promotion, and application of new L. racemosus varieties, this review provides an in-depth analysis of the application value in soil improvement, windbreak and sand fixation, and soil and water conservation. Based on current status, research aspects are proposed for future:while also emphasizing the development of new L. racemosus varieties with greater stress resistance and biomass; and breeding stress-resistant wheat cultivars, using L. racemosus and wheat varieties lacking incompatible distant hybridization genes as parents; strengthening whole-genome research of L. racemosus to explore genes related to stress resistance and disease resistance, and screening potential genetic resources for wheat breeding; systematically conducting restoration research on L. racemosus in marginal lands such as sandy and saline-alkaline soils, improving its standardized cultivation techniques and adaptability evaluation system, thereby providing scientific support for the promotion and application of the L. racemosus; carrying out conservation studies on wild germplasm resources of L. racemosus to preserve the foundation for breeding.

This research was conducted in the Stipa breviflora desert steppe of Siziwang Banner， Inner Mongolia. We established four stocking-rate treatments 0， 0.91， 1.82， and 2.71 sheep/（hm²·a） and plant community was categorized into five plant functional groups-perennial rhizomatous grasses， perennial forbs， perennial bunchgrasses， annual–biennial herbs， and shrubs/sub-shrubs. Quadrat sampling was used to measure plant height， cover， density， above-ground biomass， and species composition in August 2022. We calculated importance values and applied principal component analysis （PCA） to evaluate productivity-diversity coupling. Results showed that：（1） Species richness exhibited a hump-shaped response to stocking rate （22， 24， 22， and 21 species， respectively）， while morphological traits and productivity of the plant functional groups generally declined with increasing grazing pressure. （2） Importance-value analysis showed that the relative importance of perennial bunchgrasses increased from 40% to 68%， while their contribution to community productivity rose from 60% to 95%. PCA further indicated that productivity and diversity together accounted for 66.12% of the variance， which was primarily driven by this functional group.（3） A positive linear relationship was observed between species richness and productivity in the perennial forb group under no grazing， light grazing， and moderate grazing， whereas this relationship under heavy grazing was found in shrubs/sub-shrubs group. No other functional groups exhibited significant correlations. These results demonstrate that while stocking rate significantly alters plant functional group composition， species diversity alone is not a direct determinant of productivity， indicating complex interactions among disturbance， diversity， and productivity. Since perennial bunchgrasses play a crucial role in supporting productivity at higher stocking rates， grazing management strategies should prioritize the conservation and regulation of this functional group to ensure sustainable use and the ecological stability of the desert steppe.

This study focused on the moderately degraded alpine meadow in the eastern part of Qilian Mountains. A gradient of microbial fertilizer application rate was applied， namely CK （no microbial fertilizer）， BIM （7.5 g/m²）， BIIM （15 g/m²）， and BIIIM （22.5 g/m²）. The effects of different microbial fertilizer application rates on soil nutrient content， microbial community structure， and diversity of degraded alpine meadow were investigated. The results show that： In 0-10 cm soil layer， the soil nutrient content with microbial fertilizer application was significantly increased （P<0.05） compared with CK， with BIIM treatment showing the greatest effect. The contents of organic matter， available phosphorus， alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen， and available potassium were increased by 6.6%， 30.52%， 18.79% and 12.02%， respectively compared with CK； With the increase of soil depth， the effect of microbial fertilizer on soil nutrient content gradually declined； At the 20-30 cm depth， except for available potassium， no significant differences were observed among the treatments for any nutrients. The analysis of soil microbial community composition and diversity indicated that the effect of any bacterial fertilizer treatment on the diversity of fungal community was not significant， whereas the species richness of the bacterial community was significantly reduced by the BIIM treatment （P<0.05）. From the compositional perspective， the functional composition of microbial community was positively influenced by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Penicillium， Mortierella， Bacillus， and Ferribacterium. Correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of most beneficial bacteria was positively correlated with soil nutrient content. The results demonstrated that the application rate of 15 g/m² for the microbial fertilizer enriched with Bacillus subtilis， Bacillus mojavensis and Pseudomonas synxantha was effective. It significantly increased the content of key nutrients in soil and improved the soil microbial community structure， which could be applied in the restoration of regional degraded alpine meadow.

The spotted alfalfa aphid （Therioaphis trifolii） is recognized as one of the most damaging pests of alfalfa （Medicago sativa）. The application of exogenous elicitors represents a viable and environmentally friendly strategy that bolsters plant defenses while diminishing the risks that chemical pesticides pose to plants and the environment. This study focused on aphid-susceptible alfalfa cultivar， WL343 at the full-bloom stage. Salicylic acid （SA） and methyl jasmonate （MeJA） were sprayed with three concentrations （0.01， 0.1 and 1 mmol/L） to measure the effects on honeydew excretion and population growth of Therioaphis trifolii. The effects of exogenous elicitors at optimal concentrations on physiological characteristics of alfalfa under spotted alfalfa aphid stress were also analyzed. Results indicated that both SA and MeJA significantly reduced honeydew excretion and aphid population density， and optimal concentrations of SA and MeJA were 0.1 mmol/L and 0.01 mmol/L， respectively. The application of exogenous SA and MeJA significantly boosted the contents of soluble sugars， tannins and flavonoids， and enhanced the activities of polyphenol oxidase， superoxide dismutase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Consequently， this regulated the physiological and metabolic responses of alfalfa， which suppressed aphid honeydew excretion and population growth thereby enhancing the plant defense against Therioaphis trifolii.

While soil salinization is a serious problem in the Bayannur region， the comprehensive benefits of applying water-saving irrigation techniques for alfalfa （Medicago sativa） cultivation in saline-alkali soils remain unclear. In this study， the effects of four irrigation methods， subsurface irrigation， sprinkler irrigation， micro-sprinkler irrigation， and flood irrigation， were systematically investigated on alfalfa production， irrigation water use efficiency， forage quality， and economic profitability. The objectives were to identify an irrigation strategy that balances water conservation， yield improvement， and quality enhancement， and to provide a theoretical basis for efficient cultivation of alfalfa in the Bayannur region. The results showed that under flood irrigation， the reproductive growth of alfalfa in the second cut of 2023 and the first cut of 2024 occurred earlier than that under other irrigation methods. In 2023， plant height of alfalfa under sprinkler irrigation was significantly greater compared with other treatments （P < 0.05）. Under sprinkler irrigation， the fresh yield of the first cut （in July） was the highest （P < 0.05）， while hay yield was significantly greater compared with flood irrigation （P < 0.05）. No significant differences were observed for the other cuts. Irrigation water use efficiency ranked as follows： micro-sprinkler irrigation （8.20 kg/m³） > sprinkler irrigation （7.91 kg/m³） > subsurface seepage irrigation （7.17 kg/m³） > flood irrigation （6.60 kg/m³）. Compared with other irrigation methods， sprinkler irrigation yielded the highest crude protein content （23.50% and 21.90%） and the lowest neutral and acid detergent fiber content in the two cuts of 2023， with the highest relative feed value （186.56 and 171.89）. According to the aggregate data in two-year study， micro-sprinkler irrigation achieved the best performance in terms of hay yield （36901 kg/hm²）， net income （53118.08 CNY/hm²）， and profit margin on cost （158%）， followed by sprinkler irrigation. Integrating the conditions of saline-alkali soil in Bayannur with the production， quality and economic benefits of alfalfa， sprinkler irrigation is recommended as the priority method to ensure optimal production benefits and to improve water use efficiency.

Mowing is a common management and utilization method in grasslands. Understanding the ecological adaptive strategies of plant to mowing disturbance is the prerequisite for scientific implementation of mowing management. This study was conducted using a pot controlled experiment to investigate the effects of three mowing intensities on the functional traits and compensatory growth of Cynodon dactylon and Lolium perenne. The results showed that with the increase of mowing intensity， plant height， leaf area， root length， and root surface area of both C. dactylon and L. perenne decreased significantly. After 15 days of mowing， the tiller number of C. dactylon significantly increased under moderate and high mowing intensities， while mowing significantly increased the growth rate of both species. The aboveground biomass of both C. dactylon and L. perenne reached the peak under light mowing intensity， which was significantly higher compared with that of the control. The specific root length of C. dactylon， and the specific leaf area and specific root length of L. perenne were significantly decreased with the rising mowing intensities. The compensation index of C. dactylon was the highest under light mowing， whereas L. perenne had the highest compensation index under moderate mowing. Both species demonstrated compensatory growth in plant height under their respective mowing intensities， reaching overcompensation levels. Based on the integrated responses of traits including tiller number， growth rate， biomass and its allocation， post-mowing response of C. dactylon primarily is characterized by increases in tiller number and growth rate， whereas under light to moderate mowing， L. perenne exhibited increased aboveground biomass， a reduced root：shoot ratio， and higher growth rates during late growth. This suggests that the two species may achieve compensatory growth through different trait adjustments.

The typical steppe has long experienced high intensity grazing pressure， resulting in biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services. Although appropriate grazing can promote nutrient cycling and improve soil nutrient levels in grassland ecosystems， the specific effects of rational grazing on soil nutrient dynamics in typical steppe regions remains insufficiently understood. In this study， five representative steppe zones in Hulunbuir City were selected as research sites. Comparative experiments were conducted between grazing balance zones （supporting 0.6 to 1.5 sheep units per hectare） and grazing exclusion areas to examine soil nutrient variations across different soil depths. The results showed that soil nutrient indicators， including organic carbon， total nitrogen， total phosphorus， total potassium， and available phosphorus， were consistently higher in grazing balance zones than in grazing exclusion areas. Grazing exclusion exerted positive effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen across all layers （0-30 cm） in regions with lower aridity indices. The grazing response ratios of major soil nutrients exhibited strong correlations with climatic factors： grazing response ratio of soil total nitrogen was significantly positively correlated with grazing response ratio of soil total phosphorus， available phosphorus and aridity index， grazing response ratio of soil total phosphorus showed a highly positive correlation with aridity index， while all nutrient response ratios were negatively correlated with precipitation. In conclusion， rational grazing effectively enhances soil nutrient levels in typical steppe ecosystems.

Plant abscission is an active and highly regulated physiological process that occurs either as part of normal development or in response to environmental stimuli. It serves as an adaptive mechanism that enables plants to cope with environmental changes. Leaf abscission is closely related to the formation and degradation of the abscission zone and is tightly regulated by phytohormone signaling. These processes are controlled by complex genetic regulatory networks. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of leaf abscission from cytological，histological，physiological，biochemical，and molecular perspectives. By integrating key research findings，it provides a comprehensive overview of the regulatory framework underlying plant leaf abscission. Furthermore，it offers theoretical insights and methodological references to guide future studies on leaf abscission in forage grasses.

As a fundamental component of regional water resource planning and management， reference evapotranspiration （ET₀） requires a thorough investigation into the time-lag effects and synergistic interactions of different environmental variables for a comprehensive understanding. However， the response time of ET₀ to vapor pressure deficit （VPD） and temperature and their influencing factors remains unclear. In this study， time-lag effects and their interactions for VPD， temperature （including maximum， minimum， and mean temperatures）， Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） on ET₀ were analyzed using data from 107 meteorological sites across Inner Mongolia during 2000—2020. The results indicated： ET₀， VPD， temperature， and NDVI exhibited increasing trends over the study period. Notably， the time lag of ET₀ in response to VPD was longer compared to air temperature， particularly for minimum temperatures in high-altitude regions. ET₀ exhibited a stronger potential sensitivity to VPD compared to mean temperature， whereas the response to extreme low temperatures exceeded that to maximum temperature and VPD. an increase in NDVI was found to shorten the lag time of ET₀ in response to air temperature， whereas it prolonged the lag time of ET₀ in response to vapor pressure deficit.

Biodiversity monitoring constitutes a critical component of ecological observation and research， while regional vegetation landscapes provide the foundational support for biodiversity. This study illustrated the regional vegetation landscape composition of the Horqin Grassland Ecological Station by quantifying landscape heterogeneity through the Shannon-Wiener diversity index （SHDI） and Pielou evenness index （SHEI）， based on land-use data from five sites， with radii from 100 to 2000 m. Results identified that steppe grassland serves as the landscape matrix across the ecological station. There were significant variations in the area proportions of different landscape components among sites. Grasslands were the predominant type of the total area and substantially exceeding other categories. Cropland and forest-grassland ecotone followed as the secondary coverage， while the two remaining types （cropland and forest-grassland ecotone）had minimal impact. Landscape diversity （SHDI） increased significantly with spatial scale expansion， from 0.28 （100 m scale） to 0.90 （2000 m scale）， whereas evenness （SHEI） decreased， from 0.55 （100 m scale） to 0.24 （2000 m scale）， indicating that despite greater habitat richness at broader scales， resource distribution exhibits increasing inequality. This study establishes baseline landscape data for the National Ecosystem Research Station. These findings confirm that moderate cultivation and forest-grassland ecotone can enhance landscape diversity， providing a quantitative guidance for configuring artificial vegetation in degraded grassland restoration. Future research will integrate species diversity surveys to establish quantitative models linking landscape heterogeneity to biodiversity， thereby supporting decision-making for the construction of regional ecological security pattern.

Oxytropis is a dominant poisonous weed in Xizang's grassland， posing serious threats to ecosystem health and livestock production. To evaluate the potential distribution， key environmental drivers， and spatial pattern shifts of three Oxytropis species in Xizang， sample data and environmental variables were selected through correlation analysis， and the MaxEnt model was applied to predict species distributions under current and future climate scenarios. The results showed that temperature， precipitation， human activity， and elevation were the main factors shaping distribution patterns. For O. ochrocephala， the human footprint index， annual temperature range， mean temperature of the coldest quarter， and precipitation in the coldest quarter were the most influential variables. The distribution of O. falcipoides was mainly driven by the annual temperature range， precipitation in both the coldest and warmest quarters， and the temperature seasonality. For O. proboscidea， precipitation in the warmest quarter， annual temperature range， mean temperature of the warmest quarter， and elevation were the key determinants. Compared with current climate conditions， projections under future （2041—2060） three shared socioeconomic pathways （SSP1-2.6，SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5） indicated a decreasing trend in suitable habitat for O. ochrocephala and O. falcata， while suitable habitat for O. glacialis is expected to expand.

To examine the effects of photovoltaic panel shading on the quantitative characteristics of different plant communities and soil physicochemical properties in the grassland region of the Songnen Plain, a meadow steppe located at the National Photovoltaic Energy Storage Experimental Station in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, was selected as the study site. Three plant communities dominated by Leymus chinensis, Puccinellia tenuiflora and Phragmites australis were investigated in the areas beneath photovoltaic panels and in adjacent inter panel space. Community characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, and their relationships were compared between these two habitats. The results showed that, among the three communities, the L. chinensis community beneath the panels had fewer species than that in the inter panel areas, and all α-diversity indices were significantly lower (P<0.05). However, its coverage, plant height, and aboveground biomass were significantly greater beneath the panels, increasing by 12.60%, 14.70% and 58.30%, respectively (P<0.05). In the P. australis community, coverage beneath the panels was significantly lower, whereas plant height was significantly greater than in the inter panel areas (P<0.05). In the P. tenuiflora community, coverage beneath the panels was significantly lower, aboveground biomass was significantly lower, with a decrease of 89.47% (P<0.05). For all three communities, soil moisture content beneath the panels was significantly higher than in the inter panel areas, while electrical conductivity was significantly lower (P<0.05). In the P. australis community, soil total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available potassium, and organic matter contents beneath the panels were significantly lower than those in the inter panel areas (P<0.05). In the P. tenuiflora community, soil total nitrogen and organic matter contents beneath the panels were significantly lower, whereas available phosphorus content was significantly higher (P<0.05). In the L. chinensis community, no significant differences were detected in soil properties other than moisture content and electrical conductivity. Correlation analysis revealed that soil moisture content was mostly significantly positively correlated with community coverage and aboveground biomass in both habitats, indicating that soil moisture content was a key soil factor regulating grassland productivity. In conclusion, photovoltaic panel shading increased soil moisture content and thereby promoted aboveground biomass accumulation in L. chinensis and P. tenuiflora communities.

To explore the optimal legume-grass sowing ratio for synergistically improving yield and quality, a two-year field experiment with multiple mowings was conducted on the Loess Plateau. Five sowing patterns of white clover (Trifolium repens) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) were evaluated, including monocultures of each species and mixtures at legume-to-grass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. The study aimed to assess the seasonal dynamics of forage yield and nutritional quality under different patterns and to identify the optimal strategy using a coupling coordination degree model. The results indicated that mixed sowing exhibited significant overyielding effects. Specifically, the mixtures with 1:2 and 1:3 ratios achieved the highest total yields, which were significantly increased by 23.92%-62.71% compared to monocultures (P<0.05). Regarding quality, compared with the monoculture of tall fescue, mixed sowing effectively increased crude protein content and reduced fiber content. The coupling coordination degree analysis of yield and quality demonstrated that the 1:2 legume-grass ratio is the optimal pattern for achieving synergistic development. This pattern not only achieved synchronous optimization in yield and quality but also maintained a high-level coordination state throughout the growing season. Consequently, it extends the window period for optimal utilization, making it the ideal strategy for establishing high-yielding, high-quality, and stable grasslands.

Biochar has shown great potential for improving soil physicochemical properties and enhancing crop productivity. However， the mechanisms by which the combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer influences forage yield， soil nutrient dynamics， and soil microbial communities in legume-grass mixed pastures remain unclear. In this study， a mixed pasture of alfalfa （Medicago sativa） and smooth bromegrass （Bromus inermis） was used to examine the effects of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer co-application on soil physicochemical properties， microbial biomass， diversity， and community structure， as well as their interrelationships. The results showed that the combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer significantly enhanced soil nutrient availability. Compared with application of nitrogen fertilizer alone at 180 kg/hm²， the treatment of 8 t/hm² biochar plus 180 kg/hm² nitrogen fertilizer increased soil total nitrogen by 35.71%， ammonium nitrogen by 42.19%， and available potassium by 34.38% （P < 0.05）， while no significant difference was observed in total phosphorus content. Biochar addition markedly altered soil microbial community structure， increasing the number of unique bacterial ASVs （e.g.，10 372 in the 8 t/hm² biochar plus 180 kg/hm² nitrogen treatment） and elevating the relative abundance of Actinobacteria， Chloroflexi， Gemmatimonadota， and Sphingomonas. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that nitrogen fertilization alone reduced bacterial richness， whereas biochar addition had no significant effect on alpha diversity indices. Correlation analysis revealed that variations in the relative abundance of different soil bacterial groups were primarily associated with soil total nitrogen， nitrate nitrogen， available potassium， and forage yield. In conclusion， the combined application of 8 t/hm² biochar and 180 kg/hm² nitrogen fertilizer significantly improves soil fertility， promotes nutrient cycling， and enhances forage productivity. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of biochar-nitrogen integration to support degraded grassland restoration and sustainable pasture management.

With the continuous development of China's livestock industry，the supply-demand gap of protein feed is expanding. As the primary protein source in contemporary animal feeds，soybean meal is subject to significant price volatility due to food security concerns and international trade dynamics，which poses substantial challenges to supply chain stability. As an important feed source，forage has significant strategic development value. This article provides systematic review of forage as a substitute for soybean meal. It analyzes the nutritional profiles of forage and their effects on animals，offering a comprehensive assessment of the practical application across diverse livestock and poultry production systems. However，the substitution is limited by multiple factors，including animal species，growth stage，forage quality attributes，processing methods，and substitution ratio. Currently，the primary bottleneck hindering the widespread adoption of forage-based substitution is the immature technology for reducing soybean meal in forage production. Future efforts should focus on strengthening the forage industry to improve production efficiency and product quality. Additionally，increased scientific research investment is essential to break through key technological challenges in soybean meal substitution. These efforts will deepen the application of forage resources in soybean meal reduction initiative.

The farming-pastoral zone of northern China serves as a critical ecological security barrier for central and eastern regions. However， the combined pressures of overgrazing and climate change have led to severe grassland degradation， resulting in substantial declines in vegetation productivity and soil quality. Reseeding is a widely adopted restoration strategy， yet its effectiveness varies among plant species， potentially due to differences in root system architectures on soil physicochemical properties. In this study， a degraded typical steppe was selected to examine the effects of reseeding plants with distinct root types， including taproot， tuberous root， and fibrous root systems， with non-reseeded plots as control. The impacts on grassland productivity and soil characteristics were comprehensively assessed. The results showed that alfalfa reseeding achieved the greatest productivity improvement， with aboveground biomass increasing by about 1.38 times compared to the control. Both oat and alfalfa reseeding treatments significantly enhanced soil quality. From the perspective of root architecture， fibrous rooted plants were the most effective in improving soil organic matter， porosity， moisture content， and aggregate stability. Tap rooted plants contributed to increases in surface soil organic matter， porosity and moisture content， whereas species with straight roots were effective in improving deep soil conditions. Overall， reseeding with fibrous rooted plants yields the most pronounced restoration benefits for degraded grasslands. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for optimizing plant selection in grassland rehabilitation based on root system architecture.

This study investigated the effects of microbial inoculant seed-soaking treatments on seed germination and seedling growth of oat （Avena sativa L.） cultivar ‘Baiyan No. 7’ under drought stress. This study investigated the effects of seed soaking with microbial agents （Bacillus licheniformis， effective microorganisms， and a compound microbial inoculant） on the seed germination and seedling growth of the ‘Baiyan No. 7’ cultivar under both water stress simulated by polyethylene glycol （PEG） solutions and alternating temperature conditions （10 h light at 10°C/14 h darkness at 5°C）.The results indicated that seed inoculation with bio-agents promoted the seed germination and seedling growth of ‘Baiyan No. 7’ under drought stress. Notably， the treatment with Bacillus licheniformis （DY） significantly increased the germination rate， seedling height， and radicle length. Under mild drought stress （-0.2 MPa， -0.4 MPa）， germination rate increased， peaking between 2 to 3 days， whereas severe stress （-0.8 MPa， -1.0 MPa） suppressed germination but enhanced stress resistance. At -1.0 MPa， DY-treated seedlings exhibited the highest fresh weight （0.36 g） and soluble protein content （6.25 mg/g）， both significantly higher than the control （CK）. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations （P<0.01 or P<0.05） among most germination and growth traits， except for malondialdehyde （MDA）， which was negatively correlated. Membership function evaluation indicated that all three microbial agents improved drought resistance， with efficacy ranked as DY>compound microbial inoculant>EM consortium. DY treatment demonstrated the strongest effect， supporting its application as a seed priming strategy to enhance germination and reduce seeding requirement.