Forage production in Panicum grass legumes intercropping by combining geometrical configuration, inoculation and fertilizer under rainfed conditions

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of intercropping Panicum maximum grass and legumes (Vicia sativa and cowpeas) alone or coupled with inoculation or fertilizer. The study comprised of two field experiments conducted under rain fed conditions for two years (June, 2005 to September, 2007) at National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) Islamabad, Pakistan. In one experiment intercropping (33, 50 and 67%) of grass and legumes alone as well as coupled with seed inoculation were studied while same set of treatments was combined with fertilizer application at the rates of 25, 75 and 50 kg ha-1 (N, P2O5 and K2O) in the second experiment. All the three factors of this study not only increased fodder biomass production but also improved its quality significantly along with enhancement of soil N and organic matter during two years.