Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

Two field experiments to study the agro-quantitative and qualitative response of forage maize sown alone and as a mixture with forage legumes were conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the year 2005 and 2006. The sole crops and blended seed mixtures were sown in 30 cm apart rows with the help of single row hand drill. Experiment-I was replicated three times in randomized complete block design (RCBD), while the experiment-II was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement, measuring a net plot size of 2.4 m x 8 m. First experiment comprised of thirteen treatments i.e. maize alone (100%), 75%maize + 25%cowpea, 50%maize + 50%cowpea, 25%maize + 75%cowpea, cowpea alone (100%), 75%maize + 25%sesbania, 50%maize + 50%sesbania, 25%maize + 75%sesbania, sesbania alone (100%), 75%maize + 25%cluster bean, 50%maize + 50%cluster bean, 25%maize + 75%cluster bean and cluster bean alone (100%). Mixed cropping of maize with different legumes significantly affected the growth, yield and quality of forage. The maize sown in mixture with sesbania at seed ratio of 75%+25% produced significantly higher mixed green and dry matter yield than all other seed ratios of maize in combination with any legume. The yields of all sole legumes (Cowpea, Sesbania and Cluster bean) were significantly lower than sole maize. The lowest green forage yield (16.92 t ha -1 ) and dry matter yield (3.52 t ha -1 ) was recorded when cluster bean was sown as sole crop. All maize + sesbania produced higher CP% and EEF% of mixed forage than mixtures of maize with cowpea and cluster bean at similar seed ratios. Land equivalent ratio was also highest in maize + sesbania mixture at 75:25 seed ratio. In the second experiment response of forage maize sown alone and mixture with different legumes i.e. cowpea, sesbania and cluster bean at seed ratio of 75% + 25%was evaluated at nitrogen levels of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha -1 . The forage and dry matter yield of sole maize was increased significantly up to 150 kg N ha -1 , while the application of 150 kg N ha -1 to all maize-legume mixtures had a depressing effect on yields. Maize + sesbania mixture fertilized at 100 kg N ha -1 gave the highest mixed forage yield, dry matter yield and economic benefits (Net benefit and BCR).

Add/Update Thesis