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Production of cultivated pastures with high energy and protein levels remains a challenge during winter months for livestock. Field trials were conducted to investigate the effects of cropping systems using intercropping (alfalfa + oat and alfalfa + barley) and monocropping (alfalfa, oat and barley) on plant height, yield and quality characteristics. Furthermore, to study the competition experienced by legume and cereals when planted in a mixture. The field trial was carried out in a randomised complete block design with five treatments including sole oat, sole barley, sole alfalfa, alfalfa + oat intercropping and alfalfa + barley intercropping and three replicates. The study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the National University of Lesotho for two growing seasons (2015 and 2016). The results revealed that intercropping increased yields of forage crops in comparison to monocrops. Intercropping significantly increased protein levels and reduced fibre concentrations. In intercropping competition indices, land equivalent ratios indicated yield Original Research Article

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The coal mine soil layers contained high values of bulk density of 1.80gcm -3 and 1.90gcm -3 at depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm respectively, low contents of organic matter, soil pH and soil nutrients concentration. A field trial was conducted to investigate root growth responses of Smuts Finger grass (Digitaria eriantha cv Irene) to compacted mine soil layers. It was revealed that the greatest root masses were noted in the upper horizons with progressively significantly less in the deeper horizons. Roots of this species penetrated compacted soil layers and decreased soil bulk density. The highest soil pH values were found in the upper layers with greatest root biomass. Soil nutrients (P, Mg, Ca, Na and K) status was also better in the upper layers. Smuts Finger grass could be used as an alternative method for rehabilitation of compacted mine soil layers.