Abstract:
Production of animal feed as a sole crop is almost impossible in most part of Ethiopia,
particularly in the study area due to land shortage. Realizing the potential of intercropping to
address this problem, a field experiment was conducted during 2016 crop season at Dilla,
Southern Ethiopia; to identify the compatible forage legume for intercropping with maize, to
determine appropriate plant population that cope up with maize intercropping and to evaluate
the effect of intercropping on the performance and productivity of component crops. Three
forage legumes (cowpea, vetch and lablab) were intercropped at population of 25%, 50% and
75% with maize at recommended spacing of 75 cm x 30 cm along with the respective sole crop
of maize (75 cm x 30 cm) and forage legumes(40 cm x 10 cm). The experiment was laid out in
randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement in three replications. The results
show that day to silking, physiological maturity, dry biomass and ear length of the
intercropped maize were significantly affected by the main effect of forage legumes. The
longest days to silking(94.44) and physiological maturity (149.55) days of maize were
recorded when maize was intercropped with cowpea where highest dry biomass(12558 kg ha-
1) and ear length(19.67 cm)of maize were obtained bymaize-lablab intercropping. Days to
50% flowering of forage legumes showed significant difference among the forage legumes. In
maize/lablab intercropping, days to 50% flowering of forage legumes was significantly
delayed (70) and followed by cowpea/maize intercropping (67.44). The maize leaf area and
leaf area index were significantly affected by the main effect of forage legumes, their
population and cropping system. The highest leaf area (3731.1 cm2)and leaf area index (1.65)
were recorded in maize/lablabintercropping at 50%population.Leaf area(3693.83 cm2) and
leaf area index(1.63)of maize were higher in sole maize as compared to the intercropped
maize.The highest grain yield of maize was obtained in lablab/maize intercropping at 50%
plant population (6032 kg ha-1). The highest fresh(5933kg ha-1) and dry (4022 kgha-1)biomass
of forage legumeswere recorded when forage legume was intercropped at 75% plant
population with cowpea.The highest LER (1.66) was obtaining from maize intercropped with
cowpea and followed by maize intercropping with lablab at 50% plant population, indicating
advantage of intercropping over sole cropping.Based on this study, it can be tentatively
concluded that lablab/maize intercropping at 50% plant population found to be appropriate
combination for intercrop with maize.
