Extension in green forage availability through Cereal-legume mixtures of different seeding rates

The objective of this study was to test the possibility of extending green forage supply duration through cereal-legume mixture cultivated on arable-land in Peshwar, NWFP, Pakistan. In this area, green forage shortages are especially acute during the coldest and hottest months of the year. The experiment was conducted during winter 2002-03 at Agronomy Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar (latitude 34.01°N and altitude 350 m). Three forage grasses (oats, barely and ryegrass) and legumes (berseem, shaftal and alfalfa) were planted in four-species mixtures (two cereals + two legumes), using different planting rates (100%, 80%, 60% and 40%). The proposed mixtures were broadcasted in standing water on 5 x 5m plot, replicated 4 times under Randomize Complete Block Design. Seedbed was prepared with standard cultural practice. Plots were fertilized with 40 kg ha-1 P2O5 before sowing. Half of the experiment was irrigated, and half of the experiment received only natural rainfall. Sowing was done on November 18, 2002. The first harvest was carried out some 120 days after sowing (DAS), followed by subsequent cuts at 153, 173, 199 and 225 DAS. On average, irrigation increased 40% (fresh matter) and 38% (dry matter) yield. Forage yield of mixtures decreased as planting rates of the species decreased. The forage yield did not influence by decreasing seeding rate from 60 to 40% (P 0.05). The crude protein of dry matter showed +11.6%, +2.9%, +16.7%, -28.9%, and +26.7% raises in each subsequent cut. Rainfed treatment showed 60% reduction in forage yield, but only 4.5% loss in crude protein when compared with irrigated treatment. Of the tested mixtures, shaftal with oats and berseem with barley at relatively higher seeding rates were profitable combinations for round the year seasonal production. Adding ryegrass and alfalfa could further improve both forage quality and green forage duration. We conclude that mixing multiple species is advantageous under well irrigated conditions, and their higher planting rates as recommended for sole cultivation is advantageous for higher biomass production especially when the vegetative growth cycles of the different companion crops are different