The Impact of Maize and Sorghum Intercropping on Water Use Efficinecy and Forage Production

In order to evaluate the effect of intercropping cultivation of forage maize and sorghum on forage production, a study was carried out in 2014 growing season. Maize Hybrid (SC 704) and sorghum hybrid (speed feed) were evaluated in five row intercropping with different ratio of two spices including: M1(100%corn), M2(75 :25), M3(50:50), M4(25 : 75) and M5(100% sorghum). Two separate experiments for applying two irrigation regimes, normal (8, EXP1) and limited (16, EXP2) days irrigation intervals were used. By decreasing 52.7% water in EXP2, its total mean production for green and DM yield decreased by 16.7%, but the mean values for LER and WUE increased by 45%. In EXP.1, Maximum values for green and dry matter yield, WUE and LER were recorded for M2 treatment as 93.75 and 26.25 t -ha, 13.02 kg m-3 water, and ratio 1.35 respectively. At EXP2 these values were recorded for M4 treatment as 77.72 and 21.76 t -ha, 22.83, kg m-3 water and 1.62. With these results, the M2 treatment (75%:25%) and M3 (50%:50%) are recommended for situation of normal and severe water restrictions.