Evaluation of the yield and quality in sainfoin and alfalfa intercropping

To study the effects of intercropping on performance and quality of alfalfa and sainfoin, a field experiment as split plot in time arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out at Research Farm of College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Experimental treatments included: Monoculture of alfalfa, monoculture of sainfoin, 50% alfalfa+ 50% sainfoin as one alternate, 50% alfalfa+ 50% sainfoin as two alternates, 75% alfalfa+ 25% sainfoin, 25% alfalfa+ 75% sainfoin, 10% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa,, 20% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa, 30% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa. Results showed that the effect of year and intercropping treatments on forage dry yield was significant. The highest dry yield (5011 kg.ha-1) was obtainedin 30% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa and the lowest dry yield 3989 kg.ha-1) obtained in monoculture of sainfoin. The effect of intercropping on CP, DMD, ADF, ASH and CF was significant. Also, the effect of year on ADF and interaction effect of year × intercropping on DMD was significant. The highest CP (24%), ADF (29%), Ash (7.3%) and CF (32.2%) were obtained from monoculture of alfalfa, but the highest DMD (90%) was related to monoculture of sainfoin. In both years, the highest LER (1.26 and 1.28 for first and second years, respectively) were related to 30% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa. Therefore, 30% sainfoin+ 100% alfalfa was identified as the best treatment of this experiment.