Fodder quality improvement through intercropping and fertilizer application

Abstract

Present study investigated the improvement in fodder quality through intercropping of grass (Panicum maximum) and legumes (Vicia sativa and Vigna unguiculata) alone or coupled with fertilizer application under rain fed conditions at National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan. In this experiment, intercropping at 33, 50 and 67% of grass and legumes and fertilizer application at the rates of 25, 75 and 50 kg ha-1 (N, P2O5 and K2O) was applied. All three factors in this study not only increased fodder biomass production but also improved its quality. Fodder quality was improved by intercropping legumes with grass during first year of the study. Fertilizer and intercropping combinations proved highly positive, causing significant increase of Crude Protein in grass. The Crude Protein of pure legumes was higher than grass but fertilizer application did not affect to increase crude protein. Intercropping of legumes with grass along with fertilizer improved forage quality Total digestible nutrients (TDN) for livestock in grass were increased when forage legumes were intercropped with grass and when further supplemented with fertilizers. However, increasing effect of TDN was found significant only under combination of intercropping and fertilizer whereas these two factors individually failed to contribute in forage quality.