Effect of Intercropping Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L.) with Teosinte ( Zea mexicana Schrad ) on Forage Yield Productivity and Its Quality | ||||
Egyptian Journal of Agronomy | ||||
Article 8, Volume 41, Issue 2, August 2019, Page 183-196 PDF (793.2 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/agro.2019.11752.1161 | ||||
View on SCiNiTO | ||||
Authors | ||||
Azza Salem 1; Fadia M. Sultan1; K. A. El- Douby2 | ||||
1Forag Crops Research Department, Field Crops Res. Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt | ||||
2Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
TWO FIELD experiments were carried out at Giza Agricultural Research Station (30° 02’ N latitude and 31° 13’ E longitude, altitude 22.50m above sea level), Egypt, during 2017 and 2018 seasons to investigate the effect of three intercropping patterns of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) with teosinte (Zea mexicana Schrad ) (1- On the other side of teosinte ridges, 1:1 and 2:2 in alternating ridges) and three seeding rates, (50%+50%, 75%+50% and 50% +75%) teosinte/cowpea of its pure stand on forage yield and its quality. A split plot design with three replicates was used. The results could be summarized as follows:- -Intercropping pattern of 2:2 recorded the highest values for total fresh and dry forage yields whereas cowpea intercropped on the other side gave the lowest values in both seasons. Seeding rate of 75%+50% teosinte/cowpea recorded the highest values for total fresh and dry forage yields in both seasons. Intercropping pattern 2:2 with 75% teosinte+50% cowpea gave the highest value of totally fresh and dry yields. Whereas, planting cowpea on the other side with 50% seeding rates of both crops, gave the lowest values in both seasons. -Crude protein and digestible protein percentages, crude protein and digestible protein yields fed-1 were increased by different intercropping patterns. Seeding rates and the interaction between them compared with teosinte pure stand in both seasons, whereas fiber percentage behaved opposite trend in both season. -Land equivalent ratio (LER) and relative crowding coefficient recorded the highest values by the interaction between 2:2 ridges and 75% teosinte+50% cowpea seeding rates of its pure stands in both seasons. Teosinte was dominant crop in 6 out of 9 treatments in both seasons. -It could be concluded that 15kg teosinte+10kg cowpea and 2:2 intercropping pattern in alternate to obtain the highest mixture yield and quality. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Cowpea (<i> Vigna unguiculata </i> L.); Toesinte (<i> Zea mexicana </i> Schrad ); seeding rate; Intercropping patterns | ||||
Statistics Article View: 379 PDF Download: 526 |
||||