Effect of forage legumes and anthelmintic treatment on the performance, nutritional status and nematode parasites of grazing lambs

Recent studies in New Zealand and the UK have shown that certain forages reduce parasitic infection in sheep. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of legume forages compared to ryegrass on interactions between production, nutritional status and nematodes in grazing lambs. Twenty-four male lambs per forage treatment, half of which were treated with anthelmintics on Day 0, grazed monocultures of lucerne (Medicago sativa), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) and were compared with lambs grazing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Individual faecal egg counts (FEC) and liveweight were determined every 7 days for 56 days, after which half the lambs were slaughtered to determine total nematode intensities (TNI). Results showed that lambs grazed on red or white clover, but not lucerne, had lower pooled mean FEC and improved liveweight performance compared to lambs grazing ryegrass. Lambs treated with anthelmintics had higher TNI compared to lambs not treated, due to a trend for more adult nematodes in lambs grazing lucerne and treated with anthelmintics than all other lambs, except those grazing red clover and also given anthelmintics. Lambs grazing white clover tended to have fewer adult nematodes than lambs grazing other forages. Examination of the nematode species showed a change in female T. circumcincta occurred in all lambs following anthelmintic treatment and that the forage species grazed by lambs affected individual parasite species. Lambs grazing white clover had fewer male and adult T. circumcincta compared to lambs grazing other forages, and lambs grazing lucerne had fewer adult T. circumcincta compared to lambs grazing ryegrass or red clover. Data on small intestine TNI showed that lambs grazing lucerne and given anthelmintics had more male adult nematodes than other lambs, except those grazing red clover and treated with anthelmintics. Results indicate that lucerne and red clover both increase the re-infection of grazing lambs with Trichostrongylus species compared to ryegrass following anthelmintic treatment. In conclusion, legume forages have the potential to contribute to the control of abomasal but not small intestine nematode parasites in finishing lamb systems.     

The effects of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) when compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on ovine gastrointestinal parasite development, survival and migration

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of birdsfoot trefoil and chicory on parasitic nematode development, survival and migration when compared with perennial ryegrass. In experiment one, sheep faeces, containing 10,385 Cooperia curticei eggs were added to 25 cm diameter pots containing birdsfoot trefoil, chicory or ryegrass, and the pots maintained under optimal conditions for nematode parasite development. Replicate pots of each forage type were destructively sampled on day 8, 16, 20, 28 and 37 to collect the nematode larvae. When forages were compared on a dry matter basis, by day 16 there were 31% and 19% fewer larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory than on ryegrass, respectively (P<0.01). In the second experiment, replicate 1m(2) field plots of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory and ryegrass were sub-sampled on day 14, 21, 35 and 49 for larval counts following the application of sheep faeces containing 585,000 Teladorsagia circumcincta eggs to each plot on day 0. Results showed there were a minimum of 58% and 63% fewer infective stage parasitic larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory, respectively, compared with ryegrass on day 14 and 35 when forages were compared on a forage dry matter, plot area sampled and leaf area basis (P<0.01). Overall, these results indicate that the number of infective stage larvae on birdsfoot trefoil and chicory pasture was reduced by the effect of their sward structure on the development/survival/migration of ovine parasitic nematodes. These effects may be one of the ways in which these forages may affect parasitic infections in grazing livestock.     

The effect of dietary forage on the development and survival of helminth parasites in ovine faeces

Studies in New Zealand and the UK have shown that lambs grazing birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or chicory (Cichorium intybus) have reduced parasite intensities compared to lambs grazing ryegrass swards. However, data in the literature on the influence of forages on helminth parasites is equivocal and the underlying mechanisms by which different forage diets may affect these parasites have not been fully determined. The aim of the experiments reported here was to investigate the hypothesis that the consumption of these forages does not affect the hatching and development of helminth eggs in the faeces subsequently produced by the host animal. Lambs grazed monoculture swards of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)/red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) for 5 weeks and faecal samples collected on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 directly from the rectum of each lamb were used to prepare replicate cultures for each forage type on each occasion. The experiment was repeated over two consecutive years but ryegrass/red clover was not included in Year 2. The dry matter of all faeces was made constant and the faeces were cultured at 27 degrees C for 7 days, before larvae were extracted, counted and identified according to genus or, where possible, species. Overall, the results showed that forage diet had no effect on egg hatchability but significantly affected the development/survival of infective helminth larvae in the faeces of the host animal. Furthermore, feeding birdsfoot trefoil to lambs was found to increase the percentage of helminth parasites that reached the infective stage in the subsequent faeces compared to other forages. Further work is needed to assess whether this would increase the number of larvae on birdsfoot trefoil swards overall under field conditions and to understand the implications of these findings in an applied farming system.     

Novel forages for growth and health in farmed deer

AIMS: This paper reviews recent research on the use of new forages in deer farming that may be useful for increasing growth in weaner deer for venison production, increasing the trace element status of deer, and for developing systems less reliant on chemical inputs, notably of anthelmintics used to control internal parasites. GROWTH: Grazing on pure swards of red clover (Trifolium pratense) or chicory (Chicorium intybus) increased weaner growth during autumn by 26-47% and during spring by 10-14%, relative to red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazed on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) /white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture (0.8/0.2). Pre-weaning growth during lactation was increased by approximately 20%. These increases were due to increased rate of degradation of feed particles in the rumen, leading to higher digestibility and higher voluntary feed intakes (VFI). Red clover and chicory produce a greater proportion of their total dry matter (DM) during late summer and autumn than perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures, and are therefore better aligned with the seasonal feed requirements of deer. Grazing on the legume, sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), in autumn and spring increased the growth of weaner deer by 33% and 10%, respectively, relative to pasture-fed animals. PARASITES: Plants containing substantial concentrations of secondary compounds such as condensed tannins (CT) show promise for reducing problems caused by internal parasites. CT present in some legumes and the presence of low concentrations of both CT and sesquiterpene lactones in chicory are reviewed. Feeding sulla containing 35g CT /kg DM reduced abomasal nematode establishment and tended to reduce lungworm (Dictyocaulis eckerti) larval counts in faeces. Relative to weaner deer grazing pasture, weaner deer grazing chicory during autumn required fewer anthelmintic treatments without depressing growth rates. CT extracted from a range of legumes, and CT and sesquiterpene lactones extracted from chicory reduced the in vitro motility of both lungworm and gastrointestinal nematode larvae. The beneficial effects of CT-containing forages on the ability of young deer to manage internal parasite infections could be due to: indirect effects of CT resulting in increased amino-acid absorption, better meeting demands of the immune system; direct inhibitory effects of CT on parasite larvae and; taller plant morphology, reducing the ingestion of infective larvae. The effects of CT depend upon both their structure and CT Condensed tannins DM Dry matter L1 First-stage larvae L3 Infective third-stage larvae LWG Liveweight gain ME Metabolisable energy OM Organic matter OMD Organic matter digestibility VFIVoluntary food intake concentration in the plant, which vary between growing conditions, plant varieties and species. TRACE ELEMENTS: Chicory contained higher concentrations of copper and cobalt than perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture grown on the same farm, and deer grazing chicory had higher liver concentrations of both copper and vitamin B12. These forages may contribute to maintaining adequate trace element status in deer. CONCLUSIONS: Grazing systems that include legumes and herbs such as sulla, red clover and chicory can be used to substantially increase the growth of weaner deer for venison production whilst maintaining deer health and reducing requirements for chemical inputs. For maximum plant persistence and animal responses, these plants should be grown and managed as special-purpose forages and not used in seed mixtures with perennial grasses.     

The effect of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) on parasite intensities and performance of lambs naturally infected with helminth parasites

Conventionally, farmers rely upon the routine use of anthelmintics to control helminth parasites and their use has proved highly cost-effective. However, several factors, including the emergence of helminths resistant to pharmaceutical anthelmintics, are forcing farmers to seek alternative approaches to parasite control. Studies in New Zealand have shown that some alternative forages may reduce parasitic infestation in sheep. In the current study, it was found that under UK environmental conditions lambs with naturally acquired helminth infections grazing chicory (Cichorium intybus) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) had fewer helminth parasites than sheep grazing ryegrass/white clover (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens). Twelve pure-bred Lleyn male lambs grazed replicated 0.5ha plots of birdsfoot trefoil, chicory or ryegrass/white clover for 5 weeks. Liveweight and faecal egg counts (FECs) were determined weekly and eight lambs per forage were slaughtered at the end of the trial to determine total helminth intensities. Lambs grazing birdsfoot trefoil had a lower FEC on day 7 (P<0.05) and fewer total adult helminths than those grazing the other forages on day 35 (P<0.01). Lambs grazing chicory did not have significantly lower FEC than lambs grazing other forages but these lambs were found to have fewer total adult abomasal helminths than lambs grazing ryegrass/white clover (P<0.001). As the performance of grazing lambs is inversely correlated with the intensity of helminth parasites, these alternative forages could be used to improve the liveweight gain of lambs produced in the UK. Overall, the results support the contention that alternative forages could have a positive role in the control of helminth parasites in sheep, subject to successful agronomic development and integration of these forages into whole farm systems.     

豆科牧草水浸提液的酚酸物质含量及化感潜力

酚酸是豆科牧草水浸提液中一类重要的化感物质。试验采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定了紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.cv.Alfaking)、毛苕子(Vicia rillosa Roth.)、黄花草木樨(Melilotus of ficinalis Desr.)、白三叶(Trifolium repens L.cv.Haifa)、红三叶(Trifolium pretense L.)和杂三叶(Trifolium hybridum L.)地上部分水浸提液中对羟基苯甲酸、绿原酸、咖啡酸、香豆酸、阿魏酸、原儿茶酸、丁香酸、香草酸和肉桂酸9种酚酸的含量,并检测了这6种豆科牧草水浸提液处理以及不同浓度的酚酸纯品溶液处理对多花黑麦草(Lolium multiflorum Lam.cv.Tetragold)幼苗根生长的影响。结果表明:豆科牧草水浸提液处理能显著地抑制多花黑麦草幼苗根生长,抑制率达59.6%～97.7%;所测9种酚酸在供试豆科牧草水浸提液中普遍存在;酚酸类物质的化感作用强弱因种类而有显著差异,但均随浓度升高而加强;豆科牧草水浸提液中酚酸类物质的化感潜力存在相互作用。     

The effect of pasture species on parasitism and performance of lambs grazing one of three grass-white clover pasture swards

Lamb parasitism and performance were compared on three pasture treatments: browntop/white clover, Yorkshire fog/white clover, and ryegrass/white clover swards maintained at a sward height of 5cm in each of two years by using continuous variable stocking management. In year 1, lamb performance (both suppressively drenched (SD) and trigger drenched (TD)) was similar on ryegrass and browntop swards but was poorer (P<0.05) on Yorkshire fog swards. In year 2, lamb performance (both SD and TD) was markedly better on ryegrass than on Yorkshire fog or browntop swards. This coincided with an increase in white clover content in the ryegrass/white clover swards and a decrease in white clover content in the browntop/white clover swards. Lamb performance was related to the white clover content of the swards (R2=85.4, P<0.001 and R2=77.5, P<0.001 for SD lambs and TD lambs, respectively). Differences among pasture treatments in faecal egg count (FEC) of TD lambs were greater in year 2 than in year 1 when no significant pasture effects were observed. In year 2, FEC was lowest in lambs which grazed ryegrass/white clover, intermediate in those which grazed Yorkshire fog/white clover and highest in lambs which grazed browntop/white clover, despite herbage allowance (kg herbage mass/kg lamb mass) being greater on the browntop/white clover and Yorkshire fog/white clover swards than the ryegrass/white clover swards. Circulating antibodies to gastrointestinal parasites were measured at the end of year 2. Antibody titres were highest (P<0.05) in the plasma of lambs which grazed ryegrass/white clover swards, and lowest in lambs which grazed browntop/white clover swards due to differences in levels of antibody to (P<0.05) Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia circumcincta larvae and adults, but not Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae or adults. These findings indicate that pasture composition, especially, the proportion of white clover, can help alleviate the production losses due to gastrointestinal parasitism. This information can provide a quick and readily adoptable practice for farmers who aim to reduce drench reliance and could become a key component of any integrated parasite control programme.     

黑麦草、草地早熟禾、翦股颖和白三叶的化感作用初探

实验选用浓度为 5 0 %、75 %、10 0 %的黑麦草、草地早熟禾、翦股颖和白三叶的茎叶浸提液 (母液浓度为 10 % ,w/v) ,按照培养皿砂培的生物检测方法对四种牧草的化感作用进行初探。结果表明 :适当浓度施体茎叶浸提液对受体植物萝卜、黑麦草、高羊茅、苜蓿、白三叶、红三叶的苗干重、根干重、苗长、根长等均产生明显的抑制或促进作用 ,说明四种牧草均存在化感作用的潜势 ,且受体植物的根受化感物质的影响比植株地上部分敏感     

威宁县适生优良牧草品种筛选研究

根据威宁县人工草地建植及种草治理石漠化对优良牧草的要求,对收集和引进的20份草种的物候期、分蘖(分枝)能力、鲜草产量等主要性状进行了综合测定.结果表明:在参试的草种中,适应威宁县种植的多年生禾本科牧草品种有前进、普瑞纳、凤凰多年生黑麦草及鸭茅;一年生禾本科牧草有泰得、杰威、百盛多花黑麦草;豆科牧草有维多利亚紫花苜蓿、佛...     

不同牧草组合在肉兔生产中应用效果的分析

在家兔饲料中添加4种优良牧草对肉兔生产应用效果进行了多重比较试验,探索不同牧草在单独和配合使用的情况下对肉兔生产能力和饲喂效果的差异性和显著性。试验证明,4种牧草中黑麦草饲喂效果最好,其次为聚合草。牧草混合饲喂的效果好于单独饲喂,其中黑麦草与白三叶混合饲喂效果最好。     

热带牧草与草地可持续利用研究

选用热带主要牧草草种进行长期定位试验。结果表明,豆科牧草氮和钙的浓度显著高于禾 本科牧草。豆科牧草耗氮虽然比禾科牧草多,但由于豆科牧草具有固氮作用,因而对土壤全氮和有机质的消耗量却比禾本科牧草低。     

豆科牧草对多花黑麦草化感作用的种间差异

实验室砂培法检测了红三叶、白三叶、杂三叶、黄花草木樨、紫花苜蓿、红豆草和毛苕子等7种豆科牧草茎叶及根的10%水浸提液处理对多花黑麦草种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用,结果表明:供试豆科牧草茎叶和根的水浸提液处理对多花黑麦草种子发芽势和幼苗根的生长均有显著(p<0.05)的化感抑制作用;10%水浸提液处理对多花黑麦草幼叶伸长无显著(p>0.05)影响,但对幼叶的干物质积累具有抑制作用;豆科牧草对多花黑麦草幼苗生长的化感作用在作用强度和作用机制两方面存在显著的种间差异。     

AM真菌在白三叶-黑麦草体系中对抗逆信号的传导作用

白三叶-黑麦草混播草地是一种重要的栽培草地,丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)菌丝可以在地下形成菌丝桥,实现信号的传导。水杨酸(SA)、茉莉酸(JA)及乙烯(ET)是重要的植物信号介导物质。在温室条件下,利用AM真菌菌丝桥连接白三叶和多年生黑麦草,并用针刺处理模拟蚜虫取食,通过测定SA、JA等相关指标,研究菌丝桥连接的植物间抗逆信号的传导途径,为利用AM真菌提高植物抗逆性提供理论依据。结果表明,菌丝桥连接分别提高黑麦草地上生物量和总生物量9.97%和10.68%(P<0.05),而未影响白三叶的总生物量;黑麦草植株过氧化物酶(POD)活性在针刺后12 h降低了43.01%(P<0.05),白三叶POD酶活性升高了104.09%(P>0.05)。同时,菌丝桥连接使黑麦草和白三叶的SA浓度在针刺后12 h分别降低了12.99%(P>0.05)和24.18%(P<0.05),JA浓度分别升高了44.69%和79.32%(P<0.05)。综上,1)在白三叶-黑麦草体系中,AM真菌可通过菌丝桥,连接白三叶和黑麦草,实现养分再分配,进而促进黑麦草地上部分生长;2)在菌丝桥连接的情况下,当白三叶和黑麦草同时受到胁迫时,二者对胁迫响应不同;3)菌丝桥能够使植物对逆境胁迫做出更加快速的反应;4)菌丝桥可以在白三叶和多年生黑麦草之间传导抗逆性信号,且这个过程主要由JA介导。     

Nutritive value of forage species grown in the warm temperate climate of Australia for dairy cows: Grasses and legumes

The objective of this study was to quantify the differences in the nutritive value over 4 seasons, of 7 C₃ temperate grasses, 2 C₄ tropical grasses and 11 clover species used as forages for dairy cows. The nutritive value was assessed in terms of nutrient content and the availability of effective rumen degradable protein, rumen by pass protein, metabolisable protein (MP) and fermentable metabolisable energy.

All species were grown in plots as monocultures under conditions of non limiting nutrients and moisture and harvested by mechanical means. All species had a high crude protein content and this resulted in a high effective rumen degradable protein: fermentable metabolisable energy ratio varying from 15, for cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) to 29 for birdsfoot clover (Lotus corniculatus), and all were above the ratio of 11 required for optimal microbial protein synthesis in the rumen of dairy cows. The calculated availability of MP varied from 105 g/kg dry matter (DM) for cowpeas to 173 g/kg DM for berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) indicating that all forages would be able to meet the requirements of dairy cows producing up to 30 L/milk/day, provided they were able to consume over 19 kg DM of forage/cow/day.

Grasses had much higher hemicellulose (neutral detergent fibre minus acid detergent fibre) content than legumes. Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), a C₄ grass, had a higher proportion of hemicellulose content than the C₃ temperate grasses. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and kikuyu had a similar metabolisable energy (ME) density (9.9 MJ/kg DM) in summer. The mean ME density of perennial ryegrass, prairie grass (Bromus wildinowii) and short rotation ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) winter was similar at 10.6 MJ/kg DM and slightly higher than cocksfoot (Dactylus glomeratus), phalaris (Phalaris tuberosa) and fescue (Fescue arundunicea) which had a mean ME density of 10 MJ/kg DM.

All forages grown were able to satisfy MP and ME requirements of dairy cows producing up to 30 L milk/cow/day, provided they were able to consume sufficient forage to achieve this level of production.     

6种多年生牧草对幼龄果园的影响

通过在幼龄果园间作6种多年生牧草,结果表明,幼龄果园土壤含水量增加,杂草生长得到抑制,6种多年生牧草品种在果园间作的适宜度大小顺序为:白三叶(Haifa)>紫花苜蓿(Empress 2000)>杂三叶(Aurora)>沙打旺(普通)>鸭茅(Amba)>多年生黑麦草(Toya)。     

石漠化地区不同豆科牧草品种与经济幼林共生性研究

对不同牧草品种与石漠化典型地区主要造林树种的共生关系进行了研究.结果表明,豆科紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa与墨西哥柏Cupressus lusianica、苦刺Acacia mearnsii,红三叶Trifolium pratense与川滇桤木Alnus ferdinandi-coburgii在前3年共生性良好,紫花苜蓿不适于重度放牧,只能刈割饲喂.大百脉根Lotus uliginosus与花椒Zanthoxylum bungeanum在第1年可以共生,以后双方形成竞争,牧草的生长影响了花椒树的生长,共生性差.任豆Zenia insignis、黑荆Acacia mearnsii、海法白三叶T.pratense cv.haifa生性良好,是石漠化典型地区林草配置的优化组合.林草结合最大的优点是在经济林木成材前就可在植树地间获取经济效益,植树地的产出至少提前了3年.     

Digestibility, intake and mineral utilization of combinations of grasses and legumes by lambs

Defined mixtures of two grass (orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass) and two legume (alfalfa, red clover) hays, harvested in two cuttings in 2 yr, were fed in digestibility, intake and mineral balance trials to wether lambs. Each mixture was fed in ad libitum amounts to six crossbred wether lambs weighing 35 to 45 kg. The effect of increasing proportion of legume in mixtures on dry matter digestibility (DMD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (DNDF) and digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) differed with species combination. For all combinations, a quadratic regression (P less than .05) for DMD and DNDF indicated a small, negative associative effect for mixtures of grasses and legumes compared with pure species. Dry matter intake (DMI) showed a quadratic increase with level of legume inclusion, indicating a positive associative effect. The observed increase of DMI was approximately 6 to 7% over predicted values with 25 or 50% legume in the mixture. Intake of NDF also showed a quadratic response to level of legume, but lambs tended to eat to a fairly constant intake of 42 to 43 g NDF/kg wt.75. Mineral utilization (apparent absorption, retention) differed (P less than .05) with cutting but not species combination, and generally improved with increasing legume content in the mixture. With the exception of calcium retention (negative quadratic effect), there was little evidence for significant associative effects between grasses and legumes in mineral utilization.     

Individual administration of three tanniferous forage plants to lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus and Cooperia curticei

We investigated direct anthelmintic effects associated with the feeding of fresh tanniferous forages against established populations of Haemonchus contortus and Cooperia curticei in lambs. Twenty-four parasite naive lambs were inoculated with a single dose of infective larvae of these two parasites 27 days prior to the start of the feeding experiment. Lambs were individually fed with either chicory (Cichorium intybus), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) or a ryegrass/lucerne mixture (control) for 17 days. Animals where then united to one flock and subjected to control feeding for another 11 days to test the sustainability of potentially lowered egg excretion generated by tanniferous forage feeding. When compared to the control, administration of all tanniferous forages was associated with significant reductions of total daily faecal egg output specific to H. contortus (chicory: 89%; birdsfoot trefoil: 63%; sainfoin: 63%; all tests P<0.05) and a tendency of reduced H. contortus worm burden (chicory: 15%; birdsfoot trefoil: 49% and sainfoin: 35% reduction). Irrespective of the condensed tannin (CT) containing fodder, no anthelmintic effects were found against C. curticei. Cessation of CT-feeding followed by non-CT control feeding did not result in a re-emergence of faecal egg counts based on faecal dry matter (FECDM) in any group, suggesting that egg output reductions are sustainable. The moderate to high concentrations of CTs in birdsfoot trefoil (15.2 g CTs kg(-1) dry matter (DM)) and sainfoin (26.1 g CTs kg(-1) DM) were compatible with the hypothesis that the antiparasitic effect of these forages is caused by their content of CTs. For chicory (3 g CTs kg(-1) DM), however, other secondary metabolites need to be considered. Overall, birdsfoot trefoil and in particular sainfoin seem promising candidates in contributing to an integrated control strategy against H. contortus not only by mitigating parasite related health disturbances of the host but also by a sustained reduction of pasture contamination.     

基于稳定同位素技术的果草吸水深度研究:以洛川塬不同果-草复合系统为例

洛川塬水资源短缺、水分利用效率低,因而水分已成为洛川塬果业可持续发展的瓶颈.因此,精确测量植物的吸水深度,分析植物对不同深度土层的水分利用情况,对改进、推广果园土壤管理具有重要意义.本研究利用稳定氢氧同位素技术,研究洛川塬不同果-草复合系统[苹果(Malus domestica)-白三叶(Trifolium repens)和苹果-黑麦草(Lolium perenne)]中果树木质部水以及白三叶、黑麦草茎部水与不同层位土壤水氢同位素比率δD值特征,分析探讨不同果-草复合系统对果树水分来源及对不同层位土壤水分利用的影响.结果表明:在5月,白三叶和黑麦草分别提高0-50和50-100 cm土层的土壤含水量,且水分均来源于10-20 cm土层,与果树不存在水分竞争,同时白三叶和黑麦草均提高果树对40 cm以下土壤水的利用率,增幅分别为27％和9％;在7月,白三叶、黑麦草的水分主要来源于浅层和深层土壤,与果树存在水分竞争,但白三叶与果树的竞争效应小于黑麦草.同时,白三叶和黑麦草分别提高果树对40 cm以下土壤水和0-20 cm土壤水的利用;在8月和10月白三叶提高0-50 cm土层的土壤含水量,以及果树对0-40 cm土壤水的利用率.结果说明,种植白三叶比黑麦草能更好地调节果树水分利用层位及各土壤层位的利用率,使果树最大程度吸收水分.研究结果为揭示土壤-植物系统水分循环的驱动机制奠定基础,也为洛川塬果-草复合系统林下间作牧草品种的选择、果园水分优化管理提供科学依据.