Intercropping sainfoin with annual crops for forage production and weed control

Abstract

Sainfoin in combination with forage pea, faba bean or oat, provides a superb feed for domestic animals such as cows, lactating ewes, goats, etc. As well, one of the benefits of this kind of variety mixture is reducing the weeds in forage. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of intercropping sainfoin with annual crops (forage pea, faba bean and oat) 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. Sainfoin was the under sown crop, and forage pea, faba bean and oat were the companion crops. Control variant was pure stand of sainfoin. At the harvestable stage of sainfoin, forage yield (t ha 1 ) and weed proportion (%), were monitored.