Evaluation of forage quantity and quality in intercropping maize with pinto bean and naked pumpkin

To compare the quantity and quality of forge production in intercropping systems with maize, pinto bean and pumpkin, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at faculty of agricultural science, University of Guilan, during 2012 growing season. The treatments consisted of maize, pinto bean and naked pumpkin sole cropping, maize – pinto bean and maize – pumpkin double cropping and maize-pinto bean-pumpkin triple cropping. The results showed that the highest forage dry weight produced in triple cropping and the lowest in pinto bean sole cropping. The highest and lowest crude protein productions observed in triple cropping and maize sole cropping systems, respectively. The highest acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were observed in maize sole cropping, versus, both were reduced in triple cropping system due to intercropping with pinto bean and pumpkin. The ADF and NDF of maize in triple cropping systems reductions were more than sole cropping systems; therefore, the total digestible nutrients and consumable dry matter were increased. This research showed that the quantity and quality of total forage production of triple cropping systems of maize, pinto bean and pumpkin were significantly superior to the other cropping systems.