Intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with lablab (Lablab purpureus L.) for sustainable fodder production and quality in smallholder rural farming systems in South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACTAn on-farm field experiment was conducted in South Africa’s rural Moist Tall Grassveld region which is characterized by overgrazing and a reduced grazing capacity. The grassland is sour veld and only provides palatable material during the 6-month growing season. The experiment was conducted to assess the effect of intercropping maize with lablab on maize fodder, grain yield, and quality, social and economic aspects. The results indicated superiority of intercropping over sole cropping, with intercropping treatments showing consistent superiority across 4 years of the experiment. Maize grain and fodder yields were positively influenced by intercropping with lablab. The maize fodder and total fodder yields were higher in intercropped than in sole maize plots. The maize grain DM yield of the first harvest in maize-only treatment was not significantly higher than in M + L treatment. Intercropping significantly increased crude protein of maize leaves and reduced the leaves’ fiber content. Crude protein contents were lower and fiber contents higher in maize stalks and leaves than in lablab. The field trial demonstrated that diverse plant communities in the form of intercropping provide sustainable production, positive environmental, and social impacts through reduced agrochemicals and are economically viable through cost avoidance and savings. The results of this study suggest that including lablab in traditional maize cropping systems can be beneficial when entanglement of maize is avoided by delayed under sowing of lablab.