Abstract:
Effect of Intercropping Vetch Species and Harvesting Age on Morphological
Characteristics, forage Yield and Chemical Composition of Desho Grass (Pennisetum
pedicellatum) and Vetch Species in North Mecha District, Ethiopia
Tiruset Tesfaye1
, Bimrew Asmare2
and Yeshambel Mekuriaw
2
1 Department of Animal Production and Technology, College of Agriculture, Woldia
University, P.o.Box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia2 Department of Animal Production and
Technology, School of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, P
O Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Desho grass is among the locally available, multipurpose and potential feed source in
Ethiopia, but nutritive value is low. To mitigate this problem, intercopping of desho grass
with forage legumes like vetch species may increase desho nutritive value as well as
forage yiled. This experiment was conducted in north Mecha district with the objectives of
evaluating the effects of intercropping vetch species and harvesting age on the
morphological characteristics, forage yield and chemical composition of desho grass and
Vetch Species. The experiment was laid using randomized complete block design in
factorial arrangement consisted of two factors (five forage species *2 harvesting age) of
totally ten treatments with three replications. The treatments were sole desho, desho with
vicia sativa, desho with vicia dayscarpa, desho with vicia villosa (acc6213) and desho
with vicia villosa (acc6792) compared at 90 and 120 harvesting days. The root splits of
desho grass and seed for vetch species were planted and sown at recommendation rate.
100 kg/ha of nitrogen phosphate sulfur was applied at time of planting for both forages
and 25 kg/ha urea was applied after 30 days of planting, weeding and hoeing for desho
grass. All morphological, forage yield and samples for quality data were collected from
two middle rows of ten plants. Samples were harvested at specified ages, weighed, dried
and then ground subsamples taken for analyses of crude protein, ash, organic matter, dry
matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin were done
using proximate and Van Soest procedures. All data were subjected to General Linear
Model ANOVA procedures of SAS. The result showed that interaction effect of harvesting
age and intercropping of vetch species with desho grass was observed on the
morphological characteristics, dry matter yield and chemical composition desho grass.
Intercropping of vetch species with desho grass was significantly higher dry matter yield
(15.3 to 18.06 ton/ha) than sole desho except desho with vicia sativa (10.65 ton/ha). The
highest crude protein content was obtained from desho grass intercropped with two vicia