Abstract
Sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] intercropped with tropical grasses can be used in silage production systems to increase the dry matter yield per area, provide pasture after sorghum harvesting and improve land‐use efficiency (LUE). Our objective was to compare the production and quality of sorghum silage intercropped with palisade grass [ Urochloa brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf ‘Marandu’] or guinea grass [ Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs ‘Tanzânia’] with that of monocropped sorghum, the pasture in the off‐season, as well as the land equivalent ratios of these systems during two growing seasons (2010–2011 and 2011–2012). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with four replicates. The treatments were: monocropped sorghum silage, sorghum silage intercropped with palisade grass and sorghum silage intercropped with guinea grass. The productivity of the intercropped systems was as high as that of the monocropped sorghum. The development of the sorghum was not affected by intercropping with grasses. Intercropping sorghum with tropical grasses generally increases the fiber content of the silage compared with monocropped sorghum; however, this is a viable option for producing feed with adequate nutritional quality. Intercropping sorghum with palisade grass improved the land equivalent ratio, resulting in greater LUE. Intercropping sorghum with palisade and guinea grass also improved the relative N yield compared with monocropped sorghum and did not influence aggressivity and relative crowding coefficient. The main benefit of these intercropping systems is established grazing during the off‐season, which can be considered a good cultivation strategy for tropical regions. Core Ideas Intercropping crops in a no‐till system increase the diversification of agricultural production. Intercropping systems provide better uses of agricultural areas throughout the year. The intercropping systems productivity is as high as that of monocropped crops. Intercropping sorghum with grasses is a viable option for feed production. One of the intercropping systems benefits is established grazing during the off‐season.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropped systems matched monocropped sorghum productivity.
- Treatment
- intercropped systemse0
- Outcome
- productivitye0
- Direction
- as high ase0
- Comparator
- monocropped sorghume0
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The productivity of the intercropped systems was as high as that of the monocropped sorghum.”
t0“Sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping did not affect sorghum development.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The development of the sorghum was not affected by intercropping with grasses.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping generally increased silage fiber content over monocropped sorghum.
- Treatment
- Intercropping sorghum with tropical grassese0
- Outcome
- fiber content of the silagee0
- Direction
- increasese0
- Comparator
- monocropped sorghume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping sorghum with tropical grasses generally increases the fiber content of the silage compared with monocropped sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropped silage retained adequate nutritional quality.
- Outcome
- adequate nutritional qualitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“this is a viable option for producing feed with adequate nutritional quality.”
t0“Sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Palisade grass intercropping improved the land equivalent ratio and land use efficiency.
- Treatment
- Intercropping sorghum with palisade grasse0
- Outcome
- land equivalent ratioe0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping sorghum with palisade grass improved the land equivalent ratio, resulting in greater LUE.”
Claim · model-written summary
Palisade grass intercropping improved relative nitrogen yield.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping sorghum with palisade and guinea grass also improved the relative N yield compared with monocropped sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Guinea grass intercropping improved relative nitrogen yield.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping sorghum with palisade and guinea grass also improved the relative N yield compared with monocropped sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping did not influence aggressivity or relative crowding coefficient.
- Treatment
- Intercropping sorghum with palisade and guinea grasse0
- Outcome
- aggressivity and relative crowding coefficiente0
- Direction
- did not influencee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Intercropping sorghum with palisade and guinea grass also improved the relative N yield compared with monocropped sorghum and did not influence aggressivity and relative crowding coefficient.”
t0“Sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The systems established off season grazing.
- Outcome
- established grazing during the off‐seasone0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The main benefit of these intercropping systems is established grazing during the off‐season”
t0“Sorghum”
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