Evaluation of Maize Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and Net Energy for Lactation (NEL) in Intercropping

In order to study the effect of different intercropping combinations on some maize qualitative traits, an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design with three replications in Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, in 2006 and 2007. Two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (704, 301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) single crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with legumes were used. The results showed that neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of forage maize in intercropping with legume decreased. The lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was obtained from 301 hybrid-vetch mixture and 301 hybrid –bitter vetch mixture. The NDF was used to predict DMI and was negatively correlated with DMI, which means that when NDF is low the quality and DMI are high. Also, the lowest ADF content was achieved in intercropping of 301 hybrid with bitter vetch, vetch and bean. As ADF decreased there was an increment in TDN, which means that animals are able to utilize the nutrients present in the forage. In conclusion, with the decrease of NDF and ADF in intercrops, DMI, TDN and net energy for lactation (NEL) content increased. Intercropping of maize with legume improved the forage quality in terms of TDN, DDM, NEL, NDF and ADF concentrations, as compared with the single cropping of maize.