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Intercropped field beans (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) for whole crop forage: effect of nitrogen on forage yield and quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2002

A. GHANBARI-BONJAR
Affiliation:
Imperial College at Wye, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH, UK Present address: Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Iran.
H. C. LEE
Affiliation:
Imperial College at Wye, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH, UK

Abstract

Sole crops and intercrops of field beans (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), at three nitrogen rates, were evaluated for production of whole crop forage in two field experiments, one spring and one autumn drilled, on Imperial College at Wye farm, UK, during 1997–1998. Forage quality attributes measured were crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and ash content. In both experiments, dry matter (DM) and percentage dry matter (DM%) were improved by intercropping compared with beans sole crops. Intercropping enhanced CP and NDF contents and WSC compared with beans and wheat sole crops, respectively. Nitrogen (N) applications up to 75 kg/ha produced the optimal intercrop forage yield and crude protein content. This input of N is smaller than that for other forage crops.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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