The effect of maize and sorghum-sudangrass crosses intercropped with soybean, cowpea, guar on forage, silage yield and quality

This research was carried out in the research area of Dardanos Campus of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 2016. Hay, silage yield and quality (crude protein, NDF, ADF, ADL, crude ash and pH) of corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum Sudan grass hybrid (Sorgum bicolar (L.) Moench x Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) like cereals as well as soybean (Glycine max L.), cowpea (Vigna sinensis) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) like leguminous fodder crops were sown in manner of single and mix cropping in the experiment.According to the results of the research, the lowest ratio of legumes was occurred into the mixtures containing guar. While the highest ratio of legumes was obtained from the mixtures of corn + soybean, sorghum+soybean and sorghum + cowpea. The highest yield of green and dry hay were obtained from corn single cropping trails. The yield of single cropping legumes was found low, and the guar had the lowest yield among legumes. The yields of all other mixtures were found similar in case of mix cropping, except the mixture of corn + guar. The ratio of dry matter of sorghum sudan grass hybrid and sorghum + soybean mix cropping was recorded the highest with the lowest dry matter ratio from legumes along with corn. The ratio of dry matter were decreased when legumes sown Pulses in mixtures with sorghum Sudan grass lowered the dry matter yield. The LER value varied from 0.35 to 0.87. The highest crude protein ratio in both matter and silage was obtained from pulses planted alone, in the order of cowpea, guar and soya. The lowest crude protein ratio in matter was determined in sorghum Sudan grass hybrid followed by corn. When pulses were included in the mixtures, there was an increase in the crude protein ratio. The NDF was highest for sorghum Sudan grass hybrid, sorghum + guar, corn, and corn + guar. The NDF was lowest for pulses. Producing silage lowered the NDF especially for corn. The ADF ratio was similar to the NDF ratio. Producing silage lowered the ADF and ADL ratios depending on the plant. The crude ash was highest for pulses, with lowest level in corn. In silage, the crude ash was highest for the sorghum + guar mixture, and lowest for corn and corn + guar mixtures. The lowest pH in silage was obtained from corn and corn + guar mixture.In conclusion, planting corn alone provided highest levels of yield. However, mixed planting both improved soil and increased the quality of green matter and silage. As a result, corn or sorghum Sudan grass hybrid can be planted mixed with soya or cowpea. Pulses should not be planted alone, and guar should not be included in mixtures.