Intercropping spring-sown annual legumes with cereals for forage production

Abstract

Growing annual legumes such as pea (Pisum sativum L.) and vetches (Vicia spp.) in mixtures with cereals is one of the most traditional ways of both forage and grain production in many temperate climates in Europe, Asia Minor and Near and Central East. This practice is considered beneficial kind of intercropping may serve for both forage and grain production. In Serbia and other Balkan countries, intercropping annual legumes with cereals is rather widespread and is extensively used for producing quality and protein-rich forage in feeding dairy cows and other ruminants. In a small-plot trial, carried out during the trials years of 2010, 2011 and 2012, there were included the intercrops of three spring-sown cereals, namely common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.), six spring-sown annual legumes, such as pea, common vetch (V. sativa L.), Narbonne vetch (V. narbonensis L.), faba bean (V.faba L.), grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.), and the sole crops of each intercrop component. Each intercrop was sown at a rate of 75%n of a legume and 25% of a cereal in comparison to the sowing rates in their sole crops.