Legume/Maize Intercropping and N Application for Improved Yield, Quality, Water and N Utilization for Forage Production

Legume/maize intercropping has been practiced in many countries as a sustainable cropping system, but the effects of legumes with maize together N application rates on biomass yield, quality, water-use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use (NUE) are limited under arid conditions Northwest China. Field experiments were carried out areas China from 2019 to 2020 three planting patterns (LM: Dolichos lablab (Lablab purpureus L.)/silage (Zea mays L.) intercropping; FM: Fodder soybean (Glycine max M: silage monoculture) four levels (N1: 0 kg ha−1; N2: 120 N3: 240 N4: 360 ha−1). The results showed that fertilizer had significant (p < 0.01) effect total WUE, various nutrient parameters interaction between mode no above indicators, NUE. Compared N1, N3 N4 treatments significantly increased fresh hay crude protein concentration, fat concentration maize, legumes, whole decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) acid (ADF). In comparison 2-year average yield by 60.38% 56.45%, respectively, 106.71% 100.00%, respectively. High input (N3 N4) WUEB (the WUE legume biomass), uptake, NUE than was 59.52% greater N4. also show LM FM NDF ADF compared M, forage quality FM. contrast 3.70% 1.72%, 32.05% 22.82%, 10.49% 6.02%, Application ha−1 lablab–maize systems produced better dry qualities other treatments, economic analysis is needed before making recommendation.