Performance of grasses and legumes as influenced by their strip intercropping association in typical arid Kachchh, Gujarat

Abstract

A field experiment involving four grasses and two legumes with total 14 treatment combinations was undertaken in a randomized complete block design with three replications during Kharif seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15. Data on plant height, number of tillers/branches, leaf-stem ratio, fresh and dry matter yield and land equivalent ratio were recorded. Grass-legume intercropping treatments determined higher fresh and dry matter yield than their sole counterparts. Among intercropping treatments, Dicanthium annulatum based treatments recorded higher fresh herbage and dry matter yield. Thus, intercropping of grass-legume could be recommended for enhancing fodder yield in typical arid conditions of Kachchh, Gujarat.