Productivity and morphological characteristics of buffel grass intercropped with butterfly pea under shade conditions

Forage production in the Brazilian semiarid region can be enhanced by irrigation and shading to maximize water use. We evaluated the productivity and morphological characteristics of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) intercropped with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) under shade conditions using an irrigated area with an artificial shading system (26, 39, 55%, or full sunlight). Butterfly pea was implemented in half of the land parcels in a randomized block using a split plot design with three replications. One hundred twenty days after planting was designated as the uniformity cut and the cutting was performed every 45 days for four consecutive cycles. The morphological analysis was performed during the first and fourth cycle, and the herbage mass was determined. The shadow had a quadratic effect on the leaf appearance rate in the first cycle, while shading had a quadratic deviation effect on the leaf elongation rate in the second cycle and an increased linear effect on the length of the sheet in the first cycle. Shading had a quadratic effect on the herbage mass in the third cycle and decreased linearity in the fourth cycle. The highest percentage of buffel grass was found in the single system in the first and second cycles. In addition, we observed a decreased linear effect of shade in the first cycle and the quadratic deviation effect of shade in the second cycle. A quadratic effect of shade was observed in the third and fourth cycles. The survival of the butterfly pea had a quadratic effect with a minimum rate level of 21% shading. The crude protein content showed a system effect in four cycles with higher crude protein in the intercropping system in the first and second cycles. There was also a quadratic effect of shade in the third cycle and linear increase in the fourth cycle. In conclusion, shading increased the leaf appearance rates and elongation at intermediate levels. In addition, a high level of shading increased the leaf length and survival of butterfly pea while it decreased the mass of the forage produced.