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

Document Type : Extension

Authors

1 Sceintific staff of Agronomic and Horticulture Crops Research Department, Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhad, Iran

2 Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station

3 Neyshabur Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station.

Abstract

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.

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References

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Research Achievements for Field and Horticulture Crops
Volume 7, Issue 2
February 2019
Pages 187-196

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 June 2016
  • Revise Date: 16 December 2018
  • Accept Date: 01 March 2018

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