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 North Bench district, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwestern Region, Ethiopia in 2021main cropping season. The objective of the study was to demonstrate fodder production from improved forage legumes intercropped in food and cash crop and to evaluate nutritional quality and compatibility of forage legumes. Three forage legumes namely lablab, vetch and cow pea intercropped in maize, whereas alfalfa and desmodium intercropped in coffee. The demonstration was laid out in randomized complete block design with ten replications on farm field of farmer with participatory approach. The legumes were intercropped in maize at three weeks period 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 legumes biomass yield and total biomass yield were obtained from maize- lablab based as compared to maize-vetch and maize-cow pea based intercropping system. Similarly, significantly (P<0.05) higher crude protein yield was recorded for maize-lablab based intercropping system. The lower legumes biomass yield were obtained from desmodium and alfalfa intercropped in coffee. Participant farmers were also very interested for forage production from maize-lablab based intercropping system as compared to maize-vetch, maize-cow pea, desmodim-coffee and alfalfacoffee based intercropping systems. Therefore, farmers are recommended to intercrop lablab in maize to overcome animal feed shortage in the study area and similar agroecology.