Intercropping fodder legumes in palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.ex A.Rich.) stapf.)

Abstract

The study entitled ―Intercropping fodder legumes in palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf.)‖ was conducted during June 2017 to March 2018 in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The objectives were to evaluate the production potential of intercropping fodder legumes in palisade grass in terms of yield and quality and also to assess the biological and economic efficiency of the intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three levels of intercropping (I1-no intercropping, I2-intercropping with fodder cowpea and I3 -intercropping with fodder rice bean), three spacing (S1- 60 cm x 30 cm, S2- 60 cm x 40 cm and S3- 60 cm x 60 cm) and two controls (C1- pure crop of fodder cowpea and C2 - pure crop of fodder rice bean). Palisade grass variety Mulato, fodder cowpea variety CO-9 and fodder rice bean variety Bidhan-2 were used for the study. FYM @ 10 t ha-1 was uniformly applied to all the plots at land preparation. In the treatments involving palisade grass + fodder legumes and palisade grass alone, N, P and K @ 300:75:75 kg ha-1 (1/2 N, 1/2 P and 1/2 K as basal dose and 1/2 N, 1/2 P and 1/2 K after the second harvest of palisade grass) was applied. For pure crop of fodder legumes (fodder cowpea and fodder rice bean) N, P and K @ 25: 60:30 kg ha-1 was applied and the entire dose was given as basal. The fodder legumes were sown twice (along with the planting of palisade grass and after the second harvest of palisade grass) in between two rows of palisade grass at a spacing of 30 cm× 15 cm. In the experiment, pure crop of palisade grass (I1) registered significantly higher green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, crude protein yield, uptake of nutrients and B: C ratio. Palisade grass + fodder cowpea (I2) recorded the highest green fodder yield of legume, dry fodder yield of legume, land equivalent ratio, land equivalent coefficient, aggressivity, crop equivalent yield, crude protein content of grass, crude protein yield of grass-legume mixture, available soil nitrogen and net returns. Among the two fodder legumes, fodder cowpea performed better than fodder rice bean with respect to yield, quality and economics. Among the spacing treatments, significantly higher plant height of palisade grass was registered by narrow spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm in first and fourth harvest and it was on par with 60 cm x 40 cm spacing in second and third harvest. The highest numbers of tillers were produced by 60 cm x 60 cm spacing whereas LAI was the highest for 60 cm x 30 cm spacing. The spacing, 60 cm x 30 cm recorded the highest green fodder yield of palisade grass only in the first harvest. The total green fodder yield, total dry fodder yield, crude protein content, crude protein yield and uptake of nutrients of palisade grass were not significantly influenced by spacing treatments. However, net income and B:C ratio were the highest under the widest spacing (60 cm x 60 cm). Based on these results, it can be concluded that intercropping two rows of fodder cowpea in between two rows of palisade grass planted at a spacing of 60 x 60 cm is the best combination in terms of crop equivalent yield, quality and economics.