EFFECT OF FORAGE LEGUMES INTERCROPPED WITH MAIZE AT DIFFERENTPOPULATION ON YIELD AND YIELD RELATED TRAITS OF THE COMPONET CROPS AND ON SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY AT DILLA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Production of animal feed as a sole crop is almost impossible in most part of Ethiopia, particularly in the study area due to land shortage. Realizing the potential of intercropping to address this problem, a field experiment was conducted during 2016 crop season at Dilla, Southern Ethiopia; to identify the compatible forage legume for intercropping with maize, to determine appropriate plant population that cope up with maize intercropping and to evaluate the effect of intercropping on the performance and productivity of component crops. Three forage legumes (cowpea, vetch and lablab) were intercropped at population of 25%, 50% and 75% with maize at recommended spacing of 75 cm x 30 cm along with the respective sole crop of maize (75 cm x 30 cm) and forage legumes(40 cm x 10 cm). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement in three replications. The results show that day to silking, physiological maturity, dry biomass and ear length of the intercropped maize were significantly affected by the main effect of forage legumes. The longest days to silking(94.44) and physiological maturity (149.55) days of maize were recorded when maize was intercropped with cowpea where highest dry biomass(12558 kg ha- 1) and ear length(19.67 cm)of maize were obtained bymaize-lablab intercropping. Days to 50% flowering of forage legumes showed significant difference among the forage legumes. In maize/lablab intercropping, days to 50% flowering of forage legumes was significantly delayed (70) and followed by cowpea/maize intercropping (67.44). The maize leaf area and leaf area index were significantly affected by the main effect of forage legumes, their population and cropping system. The highest leaf area (3731.1 cm2)and leaf area index (1.65) were recorded in maize/lablabintercropping at 50%population.Leaf area(3693.83 cm2) and leaf area index(1.63)of maize were higher in sole maize as compared to the intercropped maize.The highest grain yield of maize was obtained in lablab/maize intercropping at 50% plant population (6032 kg ha-1). The highest fresh(5933kg ha-1) and dry (4022 kgha-1)biomass of forage legumeswere recorded when forage legume was intercropped at 75% plant population with cowpea.The highest LER (1.66) was obtaining from maize intercropped with cowpea and followed by maize intercropping with lablab at 50% plant population, indicating advantage of intercropping over sole cropping.Based on this study, it can be tentatively concluded that lablab/maize intercropping at 50% plant population found to be appropriate combination for intercrop with maize.