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Maize-Soybean Intercropping: Effect of Different Variety and Sowing Density of the Legume on Forage Yield and Silage Quality |
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| Authors: | I Andrighetto G Mosca G Cozzi P Berzaghi |
| Institution: | Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecnicbe e Istituto di Agronomia Generate e Coltivazioni Erbacee, Universitàdi Padova, Italy |
| Abstract: | Two studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of different agronomic solutions on the quanti-qualitative yield of maize-soybean intercropping for silage production. In the first year the research compared the use of two hybrids of the cereal ( Lorena and Luana ) as control and in association wirh soybean varieties of different maturity group Futura (I) and King (II)]. In the following growing season the two sowing densities of the soybean (20 vs 40 p/m In both trials the intercropping gave a production similar to that obtained from the cereals control while its protein content was significantly higher. The maturity group of soybean did not modify yield and chemical composition of the intercropping. This could have been arisen from the unfavourable climatic conditions of the first growing season. In the same trial it appeared the possibility of altering the intercropping yield and composition by choosing the maize hybrid. The suitable water availability for the cereal recorded in the second study, increased the maize yield reducing the difference in composition between pure crop and mixed forage. The sowing density of the soybean did not affect the productive response of the intercropping. Maize-soybean intercropping did not show any detrimental effect during ensiling and ensiling losses were similar to those of the maize silage. |
| Keywords: | Maize-soybean intercropping yield chemical composition ensiling |