Legume Integration Augments the Forage Productivity and Quality in Maize-Based System in the Loess Plateau Region

The changing climate, inadequate water supply, insufficient agricultural inputs, decreasing in arable land areas under forage crops of Northwestern Loess Plateau region, expanding livestock population, increasing demands for meat and milk production, food feed security concerns all insist on a necessary requirement quality production. Cereal–legume mixed-cropping is biological approach to enhancing herbage yield upgraded animal (forage silage). However, little information exists about the appropriate mixing seeding ratios its impacts quality. Therefore, this study was conducted examine nutritional maize (Zea mays L.) common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris mono-and approaches at proportions 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 45:55, 25:75, 0:100 2019 2020 region. A randomized complete block design with four replicates used experiment. results indicated that significantly affected by mixture ratios. equivalent ratio (LER) treatments greater than 1.0, which maize–common 50:50 achieved higher LER (1.46) other treatments, showing combination systems are better users resources. Laboratory analysis Pearson correlation showed relative value had highly positive total digestible nutrients treatments. Our fresh dry matter were monocropped intercropped forages, whereas crude protein lower compared mixed cropping forages. After 60 days ensiling, highest organic acid profile ammonia-nitrogen observed M25:CB75 silage silages. ensilability fermentation coefficient also found M50:CB50 Regarding preservation, contents protein, fiber, water-soluble carbohydrate neutral detergent fiber forage. This determined 25:75 most desirable among mixed-cropped based chemical composition feeding.