Evaluation of the Effect of Perennial Forage Legume (Desmodium uncinatum) Intercropping with Sugarcane on Forage and Major Crop Yield, and Economic Effectiveness at Wondo Genet, Sidama, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was initiated to evaluate the effect of intercropping perennial forage legume (Desmodium uncinatum) with sugarcane on main crop and forage yield at Wondo genet. Five treatments (Sole main crop (Sugarcane), Sole Desmodium uncinatum and three seeding rates (full recommended rate, 75 % and 50 % of full recommended rate) were used for forage legume when intercropped with Sugarcane in randomized complete block design with three replications. Millable cane height, internodes number and internodes length showed non-significant effect due to different intercropping systems while cane yield (ton/ha) and green tops yield (ton/ha) did show significant difference with different intercropping systems. Experimental results reveal that different intercropping systems had no significant impact (p=0.05) on plant height, fresh biomass yield and dry biomass yield of intercrops (Desmodium uncinatum). Partial LER of sugarcane (LERs) was maximum when sugarcane was intercropped with full seeding rate of desmodium. Maximum LER of inter crops (Desmodium) (LERd) and maximum total LER (LERt) was reported in sugarcane + full seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system (1.04 and 1.80 respectively). Lowest LERt (1.36) was recorded in Sugarcane + 75% seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system. Sugarcane yield (t/ha) in sugarcane + full seeding rate of desmodium intercropping system was higher than all other combined intercropping systems. All LERt were greater than one and it indicates that the intercrop is more productive than the respective sole cropping.

Keywords: Sugarcane, Intercropping, Desmodium, Land equivalent ratio, Yield

DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/114-02

Publication date: April 30^th 2022