HAY YIELD AND QUALITY OF INTERCROPPED SORGHUM-SUDAN GRASS HYBRID AND LEGUMES WITH DIFFERENT SEED RATIO

Abstract

In this study, sorghum-sudangrass hybrid ‘Aneto’ and legumes (soybean and cowpea) intercropping at different seed rates (100:100; 50:100, 100:50) were examined for hay yield, protein content, protein yield, relative feed value (RFV) and mineral content (P, K, Mg, Ca) in 2013 and 2014. As legume Yesilsoy (Syes) and Yemsoy (Syem) verieties of soybean and Ulkem (C) varietiy of cowpea were used. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrid x legume intercropping produced higher hay and protein yield compare to their monocrops. RFV of hay also exalted with intercropping copmpare to alone sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (S). Over the years, the highest hay yield was obtained from S intercropped with Syes at 100:100 (21.61 t ha-1 ), 100:50 (20.68 t ha-1 ) seed rates and with C at 50:100 (20.40 t ha-1 ) seed rate. Protein yield was the highest in 100S:100Syes tratment in 2013 (2.16 t ha-1 ), 2014 (2.85 t ha-1 ) and combined years (2.50 t ha-1 ). However, S intercropping with C at 100:100, 50:100 (in 2013) and at 50:100 (in 2014) seed rates were at par with 100S:100Syes. This study indicated that seed rate and species or variety selection extremly important in mixture cropping. Thus, generally sorghum-sudangrass hybrid and ‘Yesilsoy’ variety of soybean at 100:100 seed rate exhibited the best results in regarding hay and protein yield in the present conditions.