Abstract:
Sudan grass is an annual forage grown with fine stems and it has been gaining increasing
importance in animal feed due to its rapid establishment. To maximize the quality and
quantity of Sudan grass grown with legumes is recommended. Hence, intercropping of Sudan
grass (Aden gode) and Vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) with different seed rate proportions may
increase the nutritive values of the forage grown. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in
the North Mecha district with the objectives of identifying the effect of seed rate on forage
quantity and quality of sudan grass (Aden gode) and vetch (vicia dasycarpa) intercropping
grown under irrigation condition. The experiment was laid with randomized completed block
design (RCBD) with five (5) seed rate treatments (100%, 75%:25%, 50%:50%, 25%:75%,
and 100%) and intercropped under three (3) replications on a 4×3m plot size. Irrigation,
weeding, and hoeing were used as management practices. All data were recorded from four
middle rows (4
th
, 5th, 6th, and 7th) of ten (10) plants with a total of 3.6m
2
area to determine
forage yield. Subsamples were weighted, dried, and then grounded for chemical composition
analyses. All recorded data were subjected to the GLM procedure of SAS (9.0). The results
showed that morphological, dry matter yield, and chemical compositions were significantly
(P<0.05) affected by different seed rate treatments. Whereas, stem thickness, root length, and
ADF% of Sudan grass (Aden-gode) and root length and ADL% of vetch (Vicia dasycarpa)
were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. The highest total dry matter yield (13.21t/ha) and
the lowest total dry matter yield (5.04t/ha) were found from 75%:25% seed rate treatment.
LER in present study greater than one (>1) in all treatments and Sudan grass had less
competitive and aggressively in 75%:25% seed rate treatment. The highest CP% and CP yield (12.19% & 0.96t/ha), respectively and the lowest crude fiber fractions of Sudan grass
(Aden-gode) was found from 75%:25% seed rate treatment. Whereas, highest CP (24.06%)
with lowest crude fiber fractions was observed from 50%:50% seed rate treatment of vetch
(Vicia dasycarpa). However, the highest CP yield (1.39, and 1.33t/ha) were recorded from
sole (100%) and 25%:75% seed rate treatment of vetch (Vicia dasycarpa), respectively.
Morphological characteristics, forage yield, and chemical composition of the forage grown
was correlated. Therefore, production of 75%:25% seed rate intercropping of Sudan grass
(Aden-gode) with vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) would be more beneficial to produce optimum
forage yield and better nutritive value.