Evaluation of Maize-Intercropped with Forage Legumes Under Different Planting Patterns on Yield and Yield Components of Maize and Fodder in West Hararghe, Oromia

Abstract

Intercropping is the main activity of the farmers in Hararghe Zones mainly due to land shortage. The study was conducted at Mechara Agriculture Research Center on station, in Daro Labu and Habro District at Farmers Training Center (FTC), West Hararghe Zone of Oromia for two consecutive years (2015/16 to 2016/17. The objectives to evaluate the influence of cropping patterns in intercropping forage legumes with maize on maize and legumes yield and yield components and to determine the appropriate cropping patterns in maize- forage legumes intercropping. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The treatments was sole maize (Melkasa-4), sole Dolichus lablab, sole Vetch, intercrop by pattern of  Dolichus lablab  at spacing 37.5cm between maize, Dolichus lablab intercrop at 25 cm spacing b/n maize, Vetch intercrop at 37.5 cm spacing b/n maize and  Vetch intercrop at 25 cm spacing b/n maize. The highest mean value of maize seed  yield (40.57qt ha^-1) was obtained from sole maize at Mecahara on station while the lowest seed  yield was recorded from double rows Vetch intercropped with maize a tBareda farmer training center (17.4qnt ha^-1) and average values of maize seed  yield (28.86qtha^-1) was obtained from maize-forage legumes intercropping in different planting patterns. The study result revealed that maize-forage legumes intercropping did not affect maize seed yield but maize seed yield decreases with double rows intercropping with legumes followed by single row. Therefore, it recommended that maize Dolichus lablab intercropping in single row was favorer for West Hararghe area and other similar agro ecologies.

Keywords: -Biomass, Forage, Seed  yield, Intercropping, Legumes