Intercropping field pea with perennial legumes for forage production

Abstract

One of the most important problems in establishing perennial legumes are weeds in the stages of the early growth and development of a perennial legume. Field pea is a short term, annual crop and can reduce weed invasion, and also it can provide increased forage yield in the first cut in the first year. The goal of this study was to examine the potential of intercropping field pea with perennial legumes for forage production. The trial with three replications was carried out at Experimental Field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad at Rimski Šančevi in 2015. Alfalfa and red clover were the under sown crops, and field pea was the companion crop. Control variants were pure stand of alfalfa and red clover and their mixture with oat. At the harvestable stage of pea, forage yield (t ha-1) and weed proportion (%) were monitored.