Effect of intercropping Sorghum almum with Centrosema pascuorum on Growth Components, Forage Yield and Chemical Composition Under Flooded Irrigation in Gashua, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the effect of intercropping Sorghum almum with Centrosema pascuorum on growth components, forage yield and chemical composition under flooded irrigation at Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University, Gashua. The experiment was carried out using a Randomized Complete Block Design, consisting of six treatments: T1= as sole sorghum, T2=sole Legume, sorghum with Centro in inter-row ratios as; 1:1 (T3), 1:2 (T4), 2:1 (T5) and 3:1 (T6). Significant (P< 0.05) difference was observed in all the growth parameters measured. The highest plant height (145.17cm) and leaf area index (4.9) were obtained in T1, and the highest tiller number (16.94) was observed in T5 (2:1). Fresh and dry matter yields were significantly (P<0.05) affected by intercropping pattern. The highest fresh, forage yield of S. almum (8.64 t/ha) obtained in Sorghum almum intercropped with C. pascourum in 1:2 inter-row ratio (T4) was significantly (P>0.05) higher than (7.17 t/ha) and (7.25 t/ha) for T5 and T6, respectively. The dry matter yield of S. almum was significantly (P<0.05) higher in intercropped plots than in sole S. almum treatment (T1). The highest dry matter yield of 6.48 t/ha was obtained in T4, with the least recorded in T5 (5.02t/ha). The best total land equivalent ratio (TLER) was observed in the intercropped treatments. The value of one (1) recorded was against both sole S. almum (T1) and sole C. pascourum (T2) plots were significantly (P<0.05) lower than 2.67, 3.12, 2.50 and 2.41 for T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. The chemical compositions were significantly (P<0.05) affected by intercropping pattern. The highest (92.60%) and lowest (89.58%) percentages of dry matter were obtained in TI (sole S. almum) and T4 (1:2 S. almum-C. pascourum), respectively. The organic matter; crude protein and ether exract of S. almum were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the intercropped plots than in sole S. almum treatment (T1). However, the ash (15.36 %), crude fibre (33.49 %), NFE (37.36 %) and NDF (54.93 %) were higher in the control (T1). Among the two species, the legume had higher crude protein (22.75 %), ether extract (7.66 %) and hemicellulose (23.81 %) contents than the grass, S. almum. This study revealed that S. almum forage harvested in the intercropped plots had better forage quality than ones harvested in the sole plots with 1:2 inter-row ratio having best crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and nitrogen free extract. Therefore intercropping S. almum with C. pascuorum in inter-row arrangement is recommended for livestock farmers in Nigeria to enhance meat and milk productions.