Livestock Research for Rural Development 27

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Evaluation of biomass yield and growth performance of

alfalfa and oat cultivars in the High Land of Arsi, Ethiopia

C Befekadu and A Yunus

Arsi University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 193, Asella,

Ethiopia

befekaduc@yahoo.com

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to investigate the effect of intercropping alfalfa

with oat on growth rate, total forage dry matter yield and nitrogen yield. Alfalfa

cultivars with or without oat was grown on finely prepared seed beds. The

experimental seed was planted on 12 m2 plot (4 m long and 3 m wide), consisted of 10

rows with intra-row spacing of 0.3m. The plots were laid out in Randomized complete

block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Data on biomass yield and

other yield related traits was subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA)

procedure for RCBD experiments using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure

of SAS computer software packages.

The result of this experiment has shown that the total forage dry matter yield

harvested from plots containing a mixture of alfalfa and oat was higher (P<0.05) than

other plots containing pure stands of alfalfa and oat. The analysis also indicated that

the dry matter yield per area of land was much greater for oat grown with alfalfa than

oat grown without alfalfa. In this trial, the leaf to stem ratio of alfalfa and oat plant

grown alone was statistically similar (P>0.05) to those grown in a mixture. The

average plant height of .alfalfa and oat plant grown in separate plot was not differed

(P>0.05) from those grown in a mixture on same plot under this experiment. The

chemical analysis result has implied that the dry matter content of each plant (alfalfa

and oat) grown in a mixture was higher than those plant grown separately. Likewise,

the crude protein content of oat grown with alfalfa on the same plots was improved as

compared to those oats plants grown alone in separate plots which could be achieved

from the symbiotic relationship between the two plants grown in mixture. In general,

the higher quality forage obtained from oat plants grown with alfalfa on the same

plots, may be an important consideration for livestock producers.

Keywords: crude protein, forage yield, growth rate, intercropping

Introduction

Feed scarcity in both quantitative and qualitative dimensions is one of the major

constraints for the promotion of the livestock sub-sector in Ethiopia (Alemu 1997). In

many areas of the country, animals are kept on poor quality natural pasture that

commonly occur on permanent grasslands, roadsides, pathways and spaces between

cropped plots (Tewodros and Meseret 2013). In the central highlands of Ethiopia

(2500–3000 meters above sea level [masl]), grasses and barley straw are major

sources of animal feed. However, these feed resources are characterized by high fiber

(>55%), low digestibility, low crude protein (< 7%) contents, and poor mineral

composition (Seyoum and Zinash 1989, Dereje et al 2010). Moreover, the available

grazing lands particularly in the highlands are decreasing in size and quality due to

high population pressure and encroachment of cropping on to communal grasslands

(Nandi and Haque 1988). These two factors limited the performance of animals fed on

poor pastures and cereal straws; since the amount consumed is restricted and the

nutritive value per unit of ingested feed is relatively low (Reed et al 1990; Tsige

2000).

One way to optimize utilization of available feed resources is strategic

supplementation of crop residues with plant protein sources such as leguminous

forage crops which have the potential for alleviating some of the feed shortages and

nutritional deficiencies experienced in the dry season on smallholder farms (Hove et

al 2001).

Leguminous forage crops have been investigated as potential supplements for

ruminants because of their beneficial effect of increasing metabolizable energy intake,

N intake and feed efficiency (Teferedegne 2000). As a result, animals with access to

leguminous forage crops perform better than those kept on natural pasture in milk

yield, weight gain, reproductive performances and survival rates (Norton 1994b;

Elbasha et al 1999).

In the existing forage legume germ-plasm selection programs in Ethiopia, more

attention has been given to assessment of the environmental adaptation, herbage DM

yield potential and seed bearing ability of candidate accession. This suggests the need

for research works focusing on characterization of elite forage cultivars grown under

varying production systems and agro-ecological conditions to effectively exploit their

potential in livestock feeding. Legume cover crops are commonly used for nitrogen

contribution because of their inherent capacity to fix atmospheric N (inert gas) into

usable form to be used by succeeding crops. A wrong combination of cover crops may

exert negative attributes, so a thorough understanding of cover crops selection and

management is needed to minimize negative outcomes.

There is very little research that has been carried out on the effectiveness of N2

fixation of indigenous (local) varieties of legumes and the effect of intercropping

these legumes with local cereal crops variety in Ethiopia. The major objective of this

study were therefore; to investigate the effect of intercropping on growth rate,

biomass yield and nitrogen fixation/yield in Arsi highlands of Ethiopia, generating

such information has a pivotal role before the candidate genotypes are officially

registered as a variety. This study was primarily designed to evaluate the seeding rate

(growth performance and biomass yield of Alfalfa as companion crop with Oat

cultivars at Arsi University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,

Asella, Ethiopia.

The specific objectives of this study (Experiment) were, therefore, to evaluate; Effect

of alfalfa and oat combination on Biomass yield.The Effect of a Companion Crop

(Oat) on growth rate of alfalfa. Nitrogen yield: Pure stands vs. mixtures

Materials and methods

Description of the study sites

he experiment was conducted in Arsi University, College of Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences; Asella, Ethiopia. The study area is located in Arsi Zone of

Oromia Regional State, at about 175 km south-east from Addis Ababa, the capital of

Ethiopia, situated at 70 57’N and 3907’E According to (Birhan 2011); the area has an

altitude of 2430 meter above sea level, annual rainfall distribution ranging from 1050-

1650mm, and average minimum and maximum temperatures of 100 and 22 0C,

respectively. The rainfall pattern of the area is bimodal with short dry season

occurring between December and March, and the long rainy season between April and

mid October. The dominant soil type in the area is reddish brown clay with about

11.10% of dark soil, and a pH of about 4.2. In the study areas agriculture is the basis

of the economy and typically a mixed type; crop- livestock production is practiced.

Treatment and experimental design

Alfalfa cultivars with or without Oat was grown at College of Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences forage and pasture research site on finely prepared seed beds.

The experimental seed was planted on 12 m2 plot (4 m long and 5.3 m wide). Each

plot (12 m2) was consisted of 10 rows arranged length-wise in an east-west direction,

with intra row spacing of 0.3m. Seeds were dressed with a fungicide before sowing.

Then, seeds was hand-drilled at a rate of 4kg/ha and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)

fertilizer was applied at the rate of 100 kg/ha at planting. The plots were laid out in

randomized complete block design with five replications per treatment. At early

stages of seedling development, weeds were controlled through manual weeding

followed by hoeing.

Table 1 . Experimental design

Treatments

Blocks ALF ALF-OAT OAT

B1 Alfalfa Alfalfa X Oat Oat

B2 Alfalfa Alfalfa X Oat Oat

B3 Alfalfa Alfalfa X Oat Oat

B4 Alfalfa Alfalfa X Oat Oat

B5 Alfalfa Alfalfa X Oat Oat

Determination of herbage yield, plant height and leaf to stem ratio

At full bloom stage, described as a stage when open flowers emerge on average of two

or more nodes and no seed pods present (Ball 1998). Accordingly, for fresh

weight determination, four adjacent middle rows with a net area of 3.2 m2 was

randomly selected and harvested manually by cutting the plants at about 5 cm above

the ground using sickle. The first harvest was taken at the time that an early flowering

variety was at the10 percent flowering stage. Subsequent harvests were done at 4

weeks intervals.

Data was collected on the following parameters:

I. Fresh weight and dry weight per plot at each harvest.

II. Leaf-stern-ratio.

III. Percentage flowering.

The fresh weight of the cut biomass was recorded just after mowing using field

balance. Then, the harvested biomass was manually chopped into small pieces and a

subsample of 200g was taken and dried in air draft oven at 60°C for 48 hours to

determine herbage dry matter yield (DMY). For plant height determination, mean

height of five randomly selected plants were recorded for each plot. Leaf to stem ratio

was determined by separately harvesting a central section of two adjacent middle rows

with a sampling area of 0.2 m2 (0.5 m length x 0.4 m width), and by partitioning the

harvested biomass in to leaf and stem fractions. The fraction was dried using similar

procedures described above for herbage DM yield determination. Percentage

flowering and ability of plants to set seed naturally were determined by leaving border

plants of each plot to overgrow after the third harvest. These border plants were

observed for flowering and seed setting. Insects were also observed for their ability to

trip flowers to effect pollination. The rate of re-growth was determined by tagging

four plants per plot after the second harvest, and measuring their height at weekly

intervals until the next harvest was done. Observations were also made on

competitiveness with weeds, nodulation and incidence of pests and diseases.

Statistical analysis

Dry matter content of the plants was measured after oven-drying at 60°C, for 24

hours. Yield was expressed as kg of dry matter per plot. Five plants were randomly

selected from each plot to collect mean quantitative data. Finally, data on yield and

other yield related traits was subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA)

procedure for randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiments using the

General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS computer software packages (SAS

2001).Duncan’s multiple range tests with a 5% probability was used to test the

significant differences between treatment means. The ‘contrast’ statement in SAS was

used to compare between means for all variables (plots) analyzed.

The model used for data analysis was:

Yij=μ + Ti+ Bj+ εij

Where; Yij is the response variable,

μ = is overall mean,

Ti = is treatment effect

Bj = is block effect and

εij = is random error

Results

Total dry matter yield

The result of this experiment has shown that, the total forage dry matter yield

harvested from plots containing a mixture of alfalfa and oat was higher (P<0.05) than

other plots containing pure stands of alfalfa and oat. This indicated that the overall

yield is not affected by the competition effects of oat as the companion crop, if the oat

plant was harvested early at the soft dough stage (Table 2). The analysis of this trial

has suggested that the total dry matter yield of alfalfa grown without companion was

greater (P<0.05) than those grown with companion plant. However, this difference did

not associate with the effect of companion plant on performance of alfalfa; rather it

could largely be attributed to the proportion of land used for growing this plant. The

land area used for growing alfalfa with companion plant was about half of the land

used for growing alfalfa without companion , indicating that the dry matter yield per

area of land was greater for alfalfa grown with companion than alfalfa grown without

companion.

Table 2. Mean values for DM yield (DMY) of alfalfa grown with and without companion oats

ALF ALF-OAT OAT SEM p

Total DMY, kg/ha 4117c 9434a 7937b 60.6 <0.001

Alfalfa DMY, kg/ha 4117 2870 29.8 <0.001

Oat-DMY, kg/ha 6564 7937 114 0.004 abc

Means within rows without common superscript are different (P<0.05)

The analysis also indicated that the total dry matter yield of oat grown alone was

maximum (P<0.05) as compared to those grown with alfalfa. Yet, the dry matter yield

per area of land was much greater for oat grown with alfalfa than oat grown without

alfalfa. The fact that the dry matter content (percent) of each plant (alfalfa and oat)

grown in a mixture was higher than those plant grown alone (alfalfa or oat), which

could be achieved from the symbiotic relationship between the two plants grown in

mixture on a single plot. Meyer (1978) reported that, higher forage yield in the

seeding year when alfalfa was established with companion crops than clear seedlings.

Optimum seedling rate of oat as a companion crop proves for maximum seasonal

yield of alfalfa (Lanini et al 1992). However, (Dixon et al 2005) concluded that cereal

grain grown with alfalfa competes with alfalfa seedlings for light, water and nutrients.

He also stated that such type of competition reduces yield by 25-30 percent. An oat

companion crop was found to be an effective alternative to chemical weed control in

seedling alfalfa. This is in line with ( Lanini et al 1992). Hence, it could be possible to

infer that using an oat as companion crop to alfalfa would appear to be an excellent

method for better total forage dry matter yield and also alfalfa seed establishment.

Leaf to stem ratio

In this trial the leaf to stem ratio of alfalfa and oat plant grown alone was statistically

similar (P>0.05) to those alfalfa and oat plant grown in a mixture. This reveals that

there was no competition for space, if oat was seeded at 30cm interval in a row with

alfalfa. The analysis (Table 3) generally suggested that establishing or developing oat

as a companion crop at 30cm interval in a row with alfalfa had no effect on seeding

and subsequent alfalfa forage yields. This result is in agreement with Diriba et al

(2014), who reported that the effect of cultivar was not substantial (P> 0.05) for leaf

to stem ratio. Leaf to stem ratio is an important trait in the selection of appropriate

forage cultivar as it is strongly related to forage quality (Juan et al 1993; Kratchunov

and Naydenov 1995; Julier et al 2000; Sheaffer et al 2000).

Table 3 . Leaf to stem ratio (on DM basis) of Alfalfa and Oat plant grown alone and in a mixture under this

experiment

Treatments ALF ALF-OAT OAT SEM p

Alfalfa DM-L:S 0.367 0.353 0.010 0.535

Oat-DM-L:S 0.428 0.430 0.007 0.924 a - f

Means within rows with different superscript are significantly different (P<0.05)

Plant height

The average plant height of alfalfa and oat plant grown in a separate plot was not

differed (P>0.05) from those grown in a mixture on the same plot under this

experiment (Table 4). This indicates that alfalfa grown with oat on the same plot did

not affected by the height and root of oat used as companion crop to obtain sun light

and nutrient respectively , if oat was seeded at 30cm interval in a row with alfalfa.

Diriba et al (2014) has repored that, cultivar has no significant effect on the stand

height and he also suggested that, cooler climates encourages more dormant alfalfa

grwoth. However, Meyer and Nudell (2008) indicated that companion crops compete

with under seeded alfalfa, which can affect the stand that can be established.

Table 4. Average Plant height of Alfalfa and Oat plant grown alone and in a mixture under this

experiment

Treatments ALF ALF-OAT OAT SEM p

Alfalfa -Ht (m) 0.556 0.600 0.022 0.378

Oat-Ht (m) 1.45 1.34 0.033 0.171 a - f

Means within rows with different superscript are different (P<0.05)

Nutrient composition

The chemical analysis result has implied that the dry matter content of alfalfa grown

with companion crop was slightly higher than those grown alone in a separate plot.

Conversely, alfalfa grown alone in separate plots had a higher Crude Protein content

than those grown in mixture with oat on the same plots. This has indicated that alfalfa

grown without companion crop produce higher quality forage as compared to those

grown with companion crop. On other hand the crude protein content of oat grown

with alfalfa on the same plots was improved as compared to those oat plants grown

alone in separate plots. This in turn has indicated that growing oat with alfalfa could

enhance the nutritional value of forage obtained from this companion crop. The

increase in crude protein content of the companion crop could be attributed to the

transfer of nutrients from alfalfa to oat grown on the same plots. This is in line with

(Meyer 1978) who reported that clear seedling of alfalfa has better quality forage than

companion forages. Anderson and Nichols (1983) and Dixon et al (2005) also

indicated that pure stands of alfalfa usually produce the highest crude protein yield

than companion crops.

Table 5. Percentage nutrient composition of Alfalfa and Companion Crop (Oat) as DM Basis, except for DM

content

Sample type DM

DM Basis (% of DM)

(%) OM CP NDF ADF ADL

ALF Whole part 28.4 95.8 23.7 36.7 20.3 1.9

Leaf 23.9 95.1 36.2 25.8 14.7 2.0

Stem 28.9 95.5 15.4 46.7 26.9 2.6

ALF-OAT Whole part

ALF 29.8 94.0 21.4 37.3 20.8 2.1

Leaf ALF

24.4 94.9 34.5 26.2 15.7 2.3

Stem ALF

30.3 95.4 14.6 49.3 29.4 2.8

Whole part OAT

23.8 95.1 14.7 50.0 28.4 8.6

Leaf OAT

22.4 95.0 21.3 40.1 23.5 4.3

Stem OAT

32.7 94.4 8.2 56.9 38.5 9.6

OAT

Whole part 24.3 94.6 16.9 46.5 25.8 8.2

Leaf 22.0 93.8 22.7 38.0 21.9 4.2

Stem 33.1 94.3 9.0 54.6 36.9 8.7

DM, dry matter; OM, organic matter; CP, crude protein NDF, neutral detergent fiber; ADF, Acid detergent fiber;

ADL, Acid detergent lignin

Conclusion

As integration of low cost feeds to optimize utilization of available feed

resources is very important, using oat companion crop during alfalfa

establishment found to be viable economically. From the chemical analysis,

higher crude protein has been observed from oat grown with alfalfa.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge Korean International Cooperation Agency

(KOICA) of South Korea for financial support of this experiment

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Received 15 April 2015; Accepted 15 May 2015; Published 3 June 2015

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