FORAGE YIELD, PROTEIN CONCENTRATION AND INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION IN RED PEA-CEREAL INTERCROPS

Abstract

SUMMARYRed pea (Lathyrus cicera L.) is an underutilized protein crop with broad adaptability. Intercrops of red pea with winter cereals have not been studied. A two years field study was conducted with the objective to determine the productivity of intercropping systems of red pea with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) in two seeding ratios (60:40 and 80:20). Growth rate, dry matter yield, protein content and yield were determined. Several indices were used to evaluate the intercropping systems and analyse competition and interrelationships between mixture components. Growth rate of cereals was lower in the mixtures than in the monocrops. Dry matter yield were the highest in barley monocrop and its intercrop with red pea at 60:40 seeding ratio. Red pea monocrop showed the highest crude protein concentration followed by its intercrops. The land equivalent ratio, relative crowding coefficient (K), actual yield loss (AYL) and system productivity index values were greater for the red pea-barley 60:40 mixture, indicating an advantage of intercropping. The partial K, aggressivity, competitive ratio and partial AYL values indicated red pea as the dominated species in the intercrops. The highest monetary advantage value was recorded for the red pea-barley mixture (60:40). The results indicate that red pea-barley mixture (60:40) was the most productive and produced better forage quality and thus could be adopted by the farmers as alternative option for forage production.