Abstract
Background: Mixed cropping of forage grasses and legumes can potentially improve the performance of herbivores. However, the feasibility of grasses mixed-cropped with legumes should be examined at different plant densities. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the growth characters and forage chemical composition in dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) with Indigofera (Indigofera zollingeriana) grown using alley cropping. Methods: Three densities of dwarf napiergrass with Indigofera, i.e., high density (2 and 1 plants m-2, respectively); medium density (1.33 and 1 plants m-2, respectively); and low density (1 and 1 plants m-2, respectively) were applied under rainfed conditions in Makassar. Results: Plant density significantly affected growth characteristics, such as plant height and tiller density in dwarf napiergrass (p<0.05), and non-significantly affected plant height and branch density (p>0.05) in Indigofera. Plant density did not affect the yielding ability at the first defoliation and annual total of yields (p>0.05), except at the second defoliation when the dry matter production of dwarf napiergrass peaked in the low plant density treatment (p<0.05). In terms of chemical composition, plant density significantly affected fiber concentrations of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, which were lowest at low plant densities (p<0.05). The acid detergent lignin and cellulose concentrations tended to be lower at low plant densities, but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: We consider that alley cropping systems for dwarf napiergrass and Indigofera are suitable if low plant densities are employed in the region.
Highlights
Forage consisting of grasses and legumes is essential for the growth, nutrition, and reproduction of ruminant livestock
Plant density did not affect the yielding ability at the first defoliation and annual total of yields (p>0.05), except at the second defoliation when the dry matter production of dwarf napiergrass peaked in the low plant density treatment (p
In terms of chemical composition, plant density significantly affected fiber concentrations of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, which were lowest at low plant densities (p
Summary
Forage consisting of grasses and legumes is essential for the growth, nutrition, and reproduction of ruminant livestock. Grass protein concentrations are 5–15% in dry matter (DM), which is markedly lower than that the 15–25% in legumes [2]; in terms of production and reproduction, grasses alone do not fully meet the needs of livestock. In order to satisfy livestock nutritional requirements, producers need to supplement the diets of their livestock with ingredients, such as concentrates, which can significantly increase production costs because the raw materials used for producing concentrates are relatively expensive. To achieve high forage biomass production, relatively high fertilizer inputs using both chemical fertilizers [3, 4] and organic fertilizers [5] are necessary, which further increases production costs [6]. Mixed cropping of forage grasses and legumes can potentially improve the performance of herbivores. The feasibility of grasses mixedcropped with legumes should be examined at different plant densities
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