PJB-2017-760
BIO-AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF FORAGE SORGHUM-LEGUMES BINARY CROPS ON HAPLIC YERMOSOLS SOIL OF PAKISTAN
Dr. Muhammad Aamir iqbal
Abstract
The proportionate share of binary crops in mixed intercropping systems is crucial in determining and boosting the productivity and agro-qualitative attributes of forage. The aim of this field trial was to investigate the response of forage sorghum and legumes (soybean, cowpea and cluster bean) sown as seed blended crops under varying seed ratios (100:35, 100:65 and 100:85). Sorghum and all three legumes were also planted as solitary crops for comparison. Sorghum sown as binary crop with legumes resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease (15-38%) of biomass in comparison with pure stand of sorghum. Among binary crops of legumes, soybean witnessed the highest loss (44%) in forage yield, while cowpea recorded the lowest decrease (27%) in forage productivity than solitary crops. However, seed blended crop of sorghum-cowpea in 100:65 seed proportion produced significantly (P<0.01) higher biomass (30%) than the mono culture of sorghum. But, mixed seeded crop of sorghum and soybean especially in 100:85 seeding ratio was instrumental in recording the highest crude protein and the lowest crude fiber contents. Sorghum-cowpea binary crops gave the maximum ether extractable fat and total ash contents of mixed forage, while the solitary crop of sorghum gave the lowest fat and ash contents. Seed blending of sorghum and cowpea in 100:65 seed ratio could be suggested owing to higher productivity under irrigated Haplic Yermosols soils of semi-arid climatic conditions
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