Influence of undersowing annual forage legumes in early-maturing maize on grain yield and quality of their forage mixtures

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of date of undersowing different legume species on maize grain yield and forage quality. Early-maturing maize (Zea mays L. cv. Suwan1) and Tephrosia bracteolata Guill. and Perr. (tephrosia), Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (lablab) and Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (mucuna) monocultures as well as their mixture at three planting times—same day, 2 weeks after planting (WAP) and 4 WAP of maize—were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. After harvesting fresh maize cobs, herbage samples (maize stover and legumes) from each plot were mixed together in ratios of 50:50 and 70:30 (maize:legume) for chemical analysis. Legume type and time of undersowing significantly affected (P < 0.05) the height and spread of maize from 4 to 6 WAP maize. Legume type and time of undersowing influenced fresh cob weight with the highest (P < 0.05) cob weight and grain yield recorded from maize undersown with tephrosia 2 WAP maize. Undersowing affected dry matter yield, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber concentrations. It is concluded that intercropping of early-maturing maize and legumes can substantially increase forage quantity and quality compared with maize monocultures.

Keywords: lablab, mucuna, suwan-1, tephrosia, undersowing

African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2014, 31(1): 59–64