evaluation of forage quality in intercropping maize with some legumes

in order to evaluate forage quality in intercropping, two field experiments were carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the agricultural research station, faculty of agriculture, university of tabriz, iran, in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 growing seasons. two maize (zea mays l.) hybrids (sc704, sc301), vetch (vicia villosa), bitter vetch (vicia ervilia), berseem clover (trifolium alexandrinum l.) and common bean (phaseolus vulgaris) as sole crops and intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes as an additive method were used. results showed that forage quality characteristics such as protein yield, neutral detergent fiber (ndf), acid detergent fiber (adf), total digestible nutrients (tdn) and dry matter intake (dmi) were affected by intercropping. the highest crude protein yield (cpy) was achieved with maize hybrid 704-vetch (1937.19 kg.ha-1) and maize hybrid 301-vetch (2180.95 kg.ha-1) intercrops and the lowest cp per ha was observed at monocultures of maize hybrid 704 (714.97 kg.ha-1) and maize hybrid 301 (762.308 kg.ha-1). also mixture maize hybrid 301 with bean, vetch and bitter vetch showed a lower ndf and adf content than the other intercrops. in conclusion as ndf and adf percent decreased in intercrops, but tdn and dmi increased. based on this study, mixture of maize hybrid 301 with vetch and common bean is considered as prime forage.