Effect of intercropping cow pea with pearl millet on forage yield and competitive relationships

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Farm of the Agriculture Faculty, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt, during successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 to study the effect of intercropping cow pea with pearl millet on forage yield and competitive relationships. A randomize complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Results could be summarized as follows: The pure stands of the pearl millet (S1) and cow pea (S2) produced the maximum total fresh and dry forage yields (ton /fed) (fed = feddan = Acre) as compared with the different intercropping systems in both seasons. Meanwhile, the cow pea and pearl millet grown under intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) recorded the highest mean values for total fresh and dry forage yields (ton /fed) whereas cow pea intercropped with pearl millet side: side (S3) recorded the lowest mean values as compared to the other tested intercropping systems in both seasons. Crude protein % was increased by intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) in both seasons compared with the different studied intercropping systems. Land equivalent ratio (LER) and relative crowding coefficient (RCC) recorded the highest mean values by intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) on the both seasons. Pearl millet was dominant crop and cow pea was dominated crop at all intercropping systems in the both seasons. From the preceding results it be concluded that intercropping cow pea with pearl millet under intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) caused an increase in forage yield production and its quality as compared to the other studied intercropping systems.