Studies on Intercropping in Napier-Bajra Hybrid

Abstract

Forage production potential of napier-bajra hybrid (NB-2]) grown in different intercropping systems and three levels of nitrogen (0,50,10O kg N/ha) was studied at CAZR1, Jodhpur during 1978 and] 979. Annuals (Cowpea and Chinese cabbage) and perennial (Koobabool) grown in the interspaces of napierbajra hybrid gave an additional dry forage yield of 7.1 and 0.8 t/ha in 1978 and 2.9 and 1.5 t/ha in ]979, without affecting yield of the principal crop significantly. 1ntercropping of lucerne in the interspaces of napier-bajra hybrid reduced the yield of principal crop significantly in both Ihe years. The yield of napier-bajra hybrid with ]00 kg N/ha increased significantly over control (0 kg N/ha) in 1979. The yield increase was of the order of 15 per cent. Highest mean crude protein yield (3.2 tjha) was obtained in the intercropping system having annuals as companion fodder crops. On the basis of land equivalent ratio (LER) growing of annual fodder gave the maximum advantage (51 per cent), followed by lucerne (33.3 per cent) and Koobabool (20 per cent).