Impact of intercropping and fertilizer application on biomass production of fodders

To evaluate the effect of intercropping panicum maximum (blue panic) grass and legumes (vicia sativa and cowpeas) alone or coupled with fertilizer application,a study was conducted under rain-fed conditions for two consecutive years (2005 to 2007) at national agriculture research center islamabad,pakistan. in this experiment,intercropping (33,50 and 67%) of grass and legumes alone as well as coupled with fertilizer application at the rates of 25,75 and 50 kg ha-1(n,p2o5 and k2o) was evaluated. intercropping and fertilizer application studied substantially increased fodder biomass production along with enhancement of soil n and organic matter during both years. the grass and legumes biomasses under control treatment were recorded as 7.09 and 8.17 t ha-1during first and second year of study,respectively. mixed fodder production increased to 11.62,13.6 and 14.13 tha-1with 33,50 and 67% intercropping,respectively. respective values of biomass were 12.71,14.79 and 17.72 t ha-1due to fertilizer supplementation. thus,combination of 67% intercropping and fertilizer proved to be the best treatment in both years. © 2015 university of agriculture. all rights reserved.