Investigation of some competition and forage quality indices in different intercropping patterns of maize with vetch, common bean, bitter vetch and berseem clover

In order to study the effect of different intercropping patterns of maize with vetch, common bean, bitter vetch and berseem clover on some maize qualitative traits, an experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications in Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, during two years. Treatments were two maize hybrids (704, 301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Cos 16) sole crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes in additive series. The results showed that forage yield of maize in intercropping with vetch and bitter vetch decreased. Digestible dry matter of forage maize in intercropping with legumes was increased. The highest digestible dry matter was achieved from 301 hybrid with bitter vetch, vetch and bean intercrops. Forage nutritive value, as indicated by Relative feed value (RFV), was improved in all legume-maize intercrops in relation to the sole maize crop. The RFV value was higher than 151 in the intercrops of maize hybrid 301 with bitter vetch and vetch. So, it can be stated that forage crop from intercropping of maize hybrid 301 with the mentioned legumes is considered as prime forage. The highest metabolisable energy (ME/D) of forage belonged to maize hybrid 301-bitter vetch and maize hybrid 301-vetch intercrops. In conclusion’s intercropping of maize hybrids with legumes improved the maize forage quality in terms of DDM, RFV and ME/D as compared with the sole cropping of maize.