Effect of Different Planting Structure of Maize and Soybean Intercropping on Fodder Production and Silage Quality

A study was conducted to examine the effects of different planting structure of maize (Zea maysL.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) intercropping on fodder production and silage quality.Maize was cultivated alone and intercropped with soybean as follows;1 row maize to 1 row soybean (1M1S),1 row maize to 2 rows soybean (1M2S) and 1 row maize to 3 rows soybean (1M3S).The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications.The crops were harvested when the maize reached at heading stage (at about 35% dry matter).The results indicated significant increase in fresh biomass and dry matter production of maize fodder alone as compared to maize intercropped with soybean fodder.However,no difference (p>0.05) was observed in ether extract (EE ), ash (%)and acid detergent fibre (ADF) of nutrient composition of fodder among the four treatments.After 60 days of ensiling period,silage samples were analysed for pH,dry matter (DM),crude protein (CP),ether extract (EE),neutraldetergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC).All intercropped silages had higher CP values (1M1S,12.1%;1M2S,12.1%;1M3S,12.7%) than the monocrop maize (SM,8.4%) silage.The NDF and ADF levels were higher for maize silage as compared to intercropped silages. The study showed that among all intercropped silages the IM3S (1 row maize to 3 rows soybean) was preferable according to nutrient composition than other intercropped silages.