Evaluation of Some Agronomic and Physiological Traits and Forage Quality in Maize - Legume Intercropping as Double Cropping

Document Type : Research Paper

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      In general, intercropping of legumes and grasses species has been applied to enhancement of nutrient value and supply energy and protein on grasses and legumes, respectively. In order to study the effect of intercropping of maize with legume on forage yield and quality, field experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 growing seasons. Two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (704, 301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) sole crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes were used. The experiment was carried out as randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that maize stem height in intercropping with bitter vetch and vetch was significantly reduced. But corn leaf number was not affected by intercropping with legumes. Also the largest green cover percent and interception of light was obtained from maize hybrids -vetch mixture. The study of forage quality characteristics indicated that the amount of DMI, DDM, NEl and RFV in intercropping was increased. Forage nutritive value, as indicated by RFV, was improved in all legume-maize intercrops in relation to the sole maize crop. The RFV value was higher than 151 only in the mixture of maize hybrid 301 with bean. It can be stated that of mixture maize hybrid 301 with the mentioned legume is considered as prime forage. In conclusion this investigation suggests that in a low input system in the northwest of Iran, the maize-legume intercrops, especially maize hybrid 301 with vetch and common bean, can be recommended as for forage production an available alternative to maize sole crop.

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