Intercropping cereals with legumes is known to improve forage production and crude protein yield. Sorghum × sudangrass hybrids (SSH) have excellent dry matter content and high cultivation temperatures. In this study, we investigated the growth characteristics, forage productivity, and feed value of intercropping SSH with different legumes in rice paddy fields. We used five treatments in this study SSH monocropping and four intercropping treatments of SSH with, lablab, cowpea, sesbania, and two cultivars of soybean (Chookdu 1 and 2). SSH plant height was not significantly different between the monocropping and intercropping treatments. However, the plant heights of lablab, cowpea, and sesbania were significantly higher than those of the two soybean cultivars. The total dry matter yield (kg/ha) was significantly higher in SSH monocropping than in intercropping; among the intercropping treatments, the one with SSH and Chookdu 2 yielded the highest total dry matter yield. The SSH feed value was significantly different between the monocropping and intercropping treatments, although there were no differences between the intercropping treatments. Among the intercropped legumes, lablab showed the highest neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents, and cowpea had the highest crude protein content. These results reveal that intercropping SSH with legumes in paddy fields could be a promising cultivation technique to maintain stable forage productivity.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of corn (Zea mays L.) - soybean (Glycine max L.) silage prepared by intercropping method on the nutritive value of the silage, in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, dry matter degradability, as well as milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows. In a couple of experiments intercropped corn-soybean silage (CSBS) was compared with corn silage (CS) and/or Italian ryegrass hay (IRG). Numerically, CSBS had higher crude protein, ether extract, and lactic acid contents compared to CS. In vitro rumen fermentation analysis demonstrated that up to a 24-h incubation period, both CS and CSBS showed higher total gas production, ammonia N concentration, and dry matter degradability compared to IRG (p<0.05). The investigation on animals was conducted in a commercial dairy farm located in Gyeongju, South Korea, employing 42 Holstein cows that were divided into 2 group treatments: CS and CSBS in a completely randomized design. Although no significant difference was observed in milk yield, animals fed on CSBS showed significantly higher milk protein (p<0.05) and milk fat content (p<0.01), compared to animals fed on CS. Taken together, our findings indicate that corn-soybean silage that is cultivated, harvested, and prepared through intercropping can improve the protein content of the silage, and can also enhance in vitro rumen fermentation, dry matter degradability, and performance of dairy cattle.

Corn is basal forage for livestock species in Republic of Korea but it lacks protein and needs nitrogenous fertilizer. This study was designed with main objective to achieve optimum growth, yield & nutritive value of forage for livestock through implementing corn-soybean intercropping strategy at 17 different places under Korean condition. Two treatments; corn as monocrop (control treatment) and corn-soybean intercrop were compared under Randomized Block Design from 28th May to 8th October, 2015. Each treatment had three replicates in each block, whereas seventeen different places were considered as blocks. Data were analyzed through SAS-9.1.3 software. Difference between two treatment means was tested through T-test. Findings depicted that intercropping pattern could not influence (P>0.05) corn plant & ear height, corn lodged stalk No. and corn stalks number. However, corn-soybean intercropping enhanced (P<0.05) forage productivity in terms of total fresh yield (16.4±0.7b vs. 19.9±0.7a tons ha-1), total dry matter yield (5.38±0.25b vs. 6.41±0.31a tons ha-1) and total digestible nutrients yield (3.94±0.17b vs. 4.59±0.21a tons ha-1). Dry matter percentage in corn stalks and corn ears was not different (P>0.05) between two treatments. It was concluded that corn-soybean intercropping strategy was promising technique in enhancing forage productivity though positive symbiotic relation between two crops.

In attempt to avoid crop damage through wild bird’s picking, this study was designed with aim to evaluate several pre-sowing soybean seed coatings for optimum yield in corn-soybean mixed forage. It was investigated under four cropping treatments, viz. 1) corn sole, 2) corn mixed with soybean without any coating, 3) corn with iron coated soybean and 4) corn with thiram coated soybean. Each treatment had three replicates and corn sole was control treatment. Pioneer (P1184) and crossbred (PI483463 × Hutcheson) seeds were used for corn and soybean, respectively. The trial was conducted under randomized block design from 5th June to 23rd September, 2015. Data were an alyzed through ANOVA technique using SAS9.1.3 software. Results depicted that survivability of soybean against wild birds damage was found better (p<0.05) in thiram coating which was higher than iron coating and control treatment but later on thiram coating had adverse effects on subsequent growth of soybean plants. Corn stalk height was decreased (p<0.05) in thiram coating, whereas corn ear height was reduced in iron coating treatment. Iron coating enhanced (p<0.05) height of soybean plant (p<0.05) better than that of thiram coating. Soybean seed coatings didn’t influence dry matter yield and nutritive value in terms of total digestible nutrients yield in corn soybean mixed forage. Conclusively, although presowing thiram coating enhanced survivability of soybean plants against wild bird damage but had adverse effects on its subsequent growth. However, soybean seed coatings didn’t influence yield and nutritive value of corn soybean intercropping forage

Conservation biological control (CBC) is one of the pest management tactics based on protecting and maintaining natural enemies that already exist in the crop environment. Among many appropriate practices to control pests, CBC has been considered as a sustainable means and a less expensive alternatives to chemicals. It contains an introduction of non-crop plants as shelter habitat for providing natural enemies with food sources, overwintering or refuges shelters. As a small scale experiment of CBC, we tried to intercrop six kinds of floral plants (buckwheat, red clover, Agastache rugosa, Chrysanthemum indicum, Allium tuberosum, Lythrum anceps) with napa cabbage in order to attract some natural enemies, especially parasitic wasps that could be fed on them in the cabbage fields, which is a novel way for conservation of natural enemies, but none showed significant result. For the development of integrated pest management system by harmonizing biological and chemical control, we carried out evaluating toxicity of 30 pesticides to parasitoids and investigating effectiveness of traps. With leaf dipping method for adult and body dipping method for cocoons, 12 pesticides showed under 30% of toxicity being selected as safer by IOBC. Using sex-pheromone traps for attracting lepidopteran pests showed that DBM, CAW and CL occurred less than untreated fields; 67.5%, 70.6% and 44.0%, respectively. Also, yellow sticky traps could reduce some pests; 52% for flea beetle, 62% for cabbage sawfly and 41% for Phaedon brassicae. These results are expected to give basic information to develop conservation biological control of DBM with indigenous parasitoids in the cabbage fields on a large scale in the future. Before developing and distributing a promising pest control method, we should consider whether it can be compatible with other agricultural practices or various situations around fields.

This experiment was carried out to know adaptability and forage production and quality of corn and corn + soybean intercropping for silage at paddy field in Chungnam province. growth, forage production and quality of silage corn was higher in case of corn and soybean intercropping than that of corn single planting at paddy field. The height of stem of Kwangpyongok and Sword bean intercropping was somewhat lower than Kwangpyongok single planting and higher at ear height and stem diameter. Fresh yield of Kwangpyongok and Sword bean intercropping was the highest as 45.8 tons per ha among corn monoculture, corn + soybean intercropping. The dry yield of Kwangpyongok and Sword bean intercropping at paddy field was the highest as 20.5 tons per ha among corn monoculture and corn + soybean intercropping. The result of this study showed that 'Kwangpyongok and Sword bean intercropping' had good forage productivity and quality of silage compared with corn monoculture, corn and common bean intercropping.

To investigate the effect of Mycorrhiza (Glomus intradics) and Rhizobium inoculation on the N, P utilization and growth response of Alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) and Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in mixed sward, four treatments (non-inoculation, C

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate growth characteristics, dry matter yield and crude protein yield according to different planting dates at sorghum sudangrass hybrid(SSH) and soybean intercropping. Planting dates were five treatment of may 6(T

A field experiment was conducted in Chungiu and Jungwon to evaluate growth characteristics, root development, dry matter yield, crude protein yield and palatability according to nitrogen fertilizer level at intercropping cultivation of sorghum sudangrass

A field experiment was conducted in Chungju and Jungwon to evaluate growth characteristics, dry matter yield, protein yield and palatability of intercropping comparing with monocropping forage crops by the use of sorghum sudangrass hybrid(S.S.H.), five f

Although corn is regarded as the most feasible forage corp, its relatively low content of protein is the critical we a kness for animal feeding. Many researches have been carried out to improve protein level in corn forage, however, there are no indicatab

This experiment was carried out to compare chemical composition, TDN yield of corn-soybean intercropping and corn monocropping forage plants at different harvesting time and obtained the following results. 1. In both cropping systems, the content of chemi

The growth characteristics and yield per unit area of two cropping systems, corn monoculture and 'wrnsoybean intercropping, were compared and the obtained results were as follows; 1.The two cultivation systems were not significantly different in leaf leng

This experiment was carried out to compare chemical composition of corn-cowpea intercropping and corn monocropping plants at different harvesting time and obtained the following results. 1. In both cropping systems, the contents of crude fat and nitrogen

This experiment was carried out to compare chemical composition of corn-cowpea inter cropping and corn monocropping plants at different harvestion time and obtained the following results. 1. In both cropping systems, the contents of crude fat and nitrogen