Pre-extension demonstration of inter-cropping of improved forages with food and cash crops at Semen Bench Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Pre-extension demonstration study was conducted in the North Bench district, Bench Sheko Zone, South-western Region, Ethiopia, in 2020/2021 main cropping season. The objective of the study was to demonstrate fodder production from improved forage legumes intercropped in food and cash crops and to evaluate the nutritional quality and compatibility of forage legumes. Three forage legumes, namely lablab, vetch, and cowpea, intercropped in maize, whereas alfalfa and desmodium intercropped in coffee. The demonstration was laid out in a randomized complete block design with ten replications on a farmer’s farm field with a participatory approach. The legumes were intercropped in maize three weeks after maize planting. The results revealed that maize plant height, maize grain yield, and maize stover biomass yields were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatments. However, significantly higher legume biomass yield and total biomass yield were obtained from maize-lablab-based intercropping as compared to maize-vetch and maize-cowpea-based intercropping systems. Similarly, the maize-lablab-based intercropping system recorded a significantly (p < 0.05) higher crude protein yield. The lower legume biomass yields were obtained from desmodium and alfalfa intercropped in coffee. Participant farmers were also very interested in forage production from maize-lablab-based intercropping systems as compared to maize-vetch, maize-cow pea, desmodium-coffee, and alfalfa-coffee-based intercropping systems. Therefore, farmers are recommended to intercrop lablab in maize to overcome the animal feed shortage in the study area.