Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize-Cowpea Intercropping System Is an Attractive Option to Improve the Fodder Productivity and Quality

The aim of present study was to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management in cereal-legume intercropping on fodder productivity, quality and nutrient uptake. The experiment was conducted during wet season of 2016 and 2017 at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana (India). Results indicated that significantly higher green fodder yield was recorded with monocropped maize with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM and 100%RDF+Zn+FYM which remained statistically similar with maize and cowpea intercropped in 2M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM. Maize and cowpea intercropped in 1M:1C ratio recorded 20.4% higher crude protein (CP) yield over monocropped maize. The maize planted under 1M:1C ratio showed significantly higher macro and micronutrients content over monocropped. Furthermore, the maize and cowpea sown under 1M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM or 100%RDF+Zn+FYM also showed significantly higher nutrient uptake (macro and micronutrients) over remaining treatments. Therefore, intercropping of maize and cowpea in 1M:1C ratio with application of 75%RDF+Zn+PGPR+FYM or 100%RDF+Zn+FYM could be recommended to enhance forage productivity, nutrient uptake and also help in curtailing the external demand of protein by augmenting on farm protein production.