Influence of Intercropping Maize with Cowpea and Fertilization with Clinoptilolite on Forage Yield and Quality

Abstract

Maize forage is poor in protein content which leads to low quality and nutritive value. Regarding the high feed costs of protein supplementations, legumes can be used in livestock nutrition for their high protein content, and thus, provide cost savings. In this study, maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were intercropped in different sowing densities and fertilization with clinoptilolite and their monocropping equivalents were tested to determine the best intercropping system on forage yield and quality. Maize was cultivated alone (75,000 plants•ha-1) and intercropped with cowpea as follows: 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 37,500 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 1), 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 50,000 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 2) and 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 75,000 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 3), in rows alternating with maize. The highest dry matter yield was produced by MC 3 (23.8 t•ha-1), and the lowest by SM (20.7 t•ha-1) in fertilization with clinoptilolite. All intercropped systems had higher crude protein contents, MC 1 (101 g•kg-1 DM), MC 2 (108 g•kg-1 DM) and MC 3 (117 g•kg-1 DM), than the monocrop maize (84 g•kg-1 DM) in fertilization with clinoptilolite. Intercropping of maize with cowpea and fertilization with clinoptilolite reduced neutral detergent fiber, resulting in increased forage digestibility. Therefore, maize intercropping with cowpea and fertilization with clinoptilolite could substantially increase forage quantity and quality, and decrease requirements for protein supplements as compared with maize monocrop.

Intercropping Pattern and N Fertilizer Schedule Affect the Performance of Additively Intercropped Maize and Forage Cowpea in the Mediterranean Region

“…It usually acquires its high N needs from the soil, while forage cowpea mainly fulfills its needs from the biological N fixation [6,49]. Atmospheric N fixation by forage cowpea would, thus contribute to reducing the competition of both crops for soil-applied N, and therefore, allow maize to use more of this [10,36]. In addition, maize might also use some of the biologically fixed N from cowpea [50].…”

“…The integration of both cereals and legumes in the same cropping system gives many advantages to the farming practice, such as reducing the damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds, securing better financial stability for the farmers and improving soil fertility [6][7][8]. In addition, the morphological and physiological differences between the component Agronomy 2022, 12, 107 2 of 17 crops allow for their complementarity in using the environmental resources resulting in a better yield and land use efficiency [9,10]. Generally, cereal-legume intercropping systems are receiving increased attention in both developing as well as developed countries to attain sustainability in grain and forage production [11,12] while avoiding the degradation associated with the extensive use of non-renewable recourses [13].…”

“…In this regard, refs. [5,10] suggested appropriate spatial arrangements to be among the most important factors enhancing maize-legume intercropping over maize sole cropping. Hence, the intercropping pattern should impact the growth and performance of cowpea because it determines the optimum space available for it to fulfill its needs from the different growth inputs.…”

Effect of Mycorrhiza Fungi, Preceding Crops, Mineral and Bio Fertilizers on Maize Intercropping with Cowpea

“…In this direction, suggested that suitable spatial arrangements are among the most important factors that enhance the superiority of intercropping between maize-legumes over the single maize crop. Hence, the pattern of intercropping should affect the growth and performance of cowpeas because it determines the optimal space available to them for meet their needs of various growth inputs [12,16].…”