Assessing Legumes for Forage Sorghum Based Intercropping Systems in the Southern High Plains
1
Eastern New Mexico and West Texas experienced a large influx of dairies in the last two decades. Demand for good quality forages by these dairies and declining water in Ogallala aquifer are compelling to improve water use efficiency in forage production systems. In a typical silage sorghum production system inter row spacing is >75cm and for the first half of the growing season inter row space is not occupied completely by the main crop. Intercropping is a system of growing two diverse species of crops on a piece of land that may help to improve the use of both above ground and below ground resources more efficiently in the above situation. Selection of crops, crop varieties, management practices are important in designing a intercropping system. Protein rich, better adapted legume species as an intercrop is expected to improve total biomass production, resource use efficiency and forage quality. Competition for sunlight, nutrients and water will also play an important role. Better understanding of these competitions and their responses to management practices will help in designing sustainable intercropping system. Assessing Legumes for Forage Sorghum Based Intercropping Systems in the Southern High Plains Sangu Angadi *1 , Sultan Begna *1 , M.R. Umesh *1 , Mark Marsalis **1 , Andy Cole 3 , Prasanna Gowda 3 , Leonard Lauriault* 2 , K. Annadurai 4 , and Robert Hagevoort 1 * Dept of Plant and Environmental Sciences, **Dept. of Extension Plant Science & 1 Agriculture Science Centers at Clovis and 2 Tucumcari, New Mexico State University, Clovis, NM 88101 3 USDA-ARS, Bushland, TX 79403, 4Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, India RESULTS INTRODUCTION For more information: Sangu Angadi: [email protected] Ph: 575-985-2292 Ex105 MATERIALS AND METHODS Locations: Clovis (08 & 09) and Tucumcari (08), NM Crops & Varieties: Forage Sorghum: FS-5 Legumes : Lablab (Rongai & Rio Verde), Cowpea (Iron&Clay), Polebean (Genuine Cornfield & Scarlet Emperor), Pigeonpea (GA-1), Limabean (Willow leaf), Spring pea (Tall Telephone), Forage Soybean (Tyrone) Population: 250,000 ha -1 (Sorghum) and 150,000 ha -1 (Legumes) SUMMARY Acknowledgement: We thank USDA-CSREES-NRI-Water and Watersheds (Grant #2007-35102-18120) program for funding this research. We also thank the New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station for the support and Dr. Sharad Phatak, Univ of Georgia and Dr. Ray Smith, Texas A&M Univ for providing pigeon pea and lablab seeds, respectively. Technical help from Aaron Scott, Joleen Szaloy, Miguel Nunez, Cecily Strait, Jessie Nunej, Wahby Ahmed and others is greatly appreciated.. Identification of shade tolerant legume species for intercropping with forage sorghum for improving biomass production, resource use efficiency, and forage quality Evaluate spatial arrangements of sorghum-legume intercropping systems to reduce competition and enhance complementary interaction Test the intercropping systems under deficit irrigation management to assess sustainability under reduced water availability Understand resource use patterns and competition in intercropping systems Spatial extrapolation of results to the Southern Great Plains to estimate water savings over the region where sorghum+legume intercropping can be adopted Dry Matter (t ha -1 ) Days after seeding (d) N Figure 1. Experimental locations in relation to Ogallala aquifer and dairy industry. WY CO NM SD OK KS TX NE Clovis, NM Tucumcari, NM Ogallala Aquifer Region Ogallala States Fastest growing dairy industry in the country N Figure 2. Forage sorghum (cv. FS-5) and pole bean (cv. Genuine Cornfield) intercropping at Clovis, NM in 2009. Management practices are developed to apply most inputs uniformly over the area (eg. frequent pivot irrigation) and small seedlings do not have capacity to use those resources from the inter row area. 0.75 -1.0m Evaporation Leaching OBJECTIVES Preliminary results indicate that Sorghum+legume intercropping system is promising to improve forage productivity. Early in the season biomass contribution by legumes to total biomass is higher and it gradually decreases by the final harvest (≈ 5 -15%) Intercropped legume improved radiation interception by using the sunlight not used by the sorghum crop. Improvement in radiation interception by intercropping systems lasted for the initial 65 days. Selection of legumes is very important. Lablab, lima bean, cowpea are promising Early maturity of legume varieties is a problem. Longer duration or more indeterminate legume varieties will improve intercropping systems further Forage sorghum varieties with shorter stature or more erect leaves will also help the system Results are also indicating better spatial arrangement to enhance light reaching legumes will improve system productivity. Under deficit irrigation, legume contribution may improve. 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Sole Sorghum Sorg + Lablab Sorg + Polebean 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 2 4 6 8 10 Intercepted PAR (%) Figure 5. Seasonal pattern of biomass accumulation and light interception by sorghum legume intercropping system at Clovis, NM in 2008. Figure 3. Promising legumes for intercropping (Tucumcari, NM in 2008). Lima bean Lablab 0 4 8 12 16 20 Sole Sorghum Sorghum + Lablab (Rio Verde) Sorghum + Lablab (Rongai) Sorghum + Soybean (Tyrone) Sorghum + Cowpea (Iron Clay) Sorghum + Lima bean (Willow leaf) Sorghum + Polebean (Genuine) Dry Matter (t ha -1 ) Figure 4. Biomass production by different sorghum legume intercropping systems at Clovis, NM in 2009. Legume Sorghum
description
Tucumcari, NM. Clovis, NM. SD. WY. N. NE. CO. Fastest growing dairy industry in the country. KS. OK. NM. TX. Ogallala Aquifer Region. Figure 1. Experimental locations in relation to Ogallala aquifer and dairy industry. Ogallala States. Evaporation. 0.75 -1.0m. Leaching. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Assessing Legumes for Forage Sorghum Based Intercropping Systems in the Southern High Plains
Eastern New Mexico and West Texas experienced a large influx of dairies in the last two decades. Demand for good quality forages by these dairies and declining water in Ogallala aquifer are compelling to improve water use efficiency in forage production systems.
In a typical silage sorghum production system inter row spacing is >75cm and for the first half of the growing season inter row space is not occupied completely by the main crop. Intercropping is a system of growing two diverse species of crops on a piece of land that may help to improve the use of both above ground and below ground resources more efficiently in the above situation.
Selection of crops, crop varieties, management practices are important in designing a intercropping system. Protein rich, better adapted legume species as an intercrop is expected to improve total biomass production, resource use efficiency and forage quality. Competition for sunlight, nutrients and water will also play an important role. Better understanding of these competitions and their responses to management practices will help in designing sustainable intercropping system.
Assessing Legumes for Forage Sorghum Based Intercropping Systems in the Southern High Plains
Sangu Angadi*1, Sultan Begna*1, M.R. Umesh*1, Mark Marsalis**1, Andy Cole3, Prasanna Gowda3, Leonard Lauriault*2, K. Annadurai4, and Robert Hagevoort1
*Dept of Plant and Environmental Sciences, **Dept. of Extension Plant Science & 1Agriculture Science Centers at Clovis and 2Tucumcari, New Mexico State University, Clovis, NM 88101
3USDA-ARS, Bushland, TX 79403, 4Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, India
RESULTSINTRODUCTION
For more information:Sangu Angadi: [email protected]
Ph: 575-985-2292 Ex105
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Locations: Clovis (08 & 09) and Tucumcari (08), NM
Crops & Varieties:Forage Sorghum: FS-5Legumes : Lablab (Rongai & Rio Verde), Cowpea (Iron&Clay),
Polebean (Genuine Cornfield & Scarlet Emperor), Pigeonpea (GA-1), Limabean (Willow leaf),
Spring pea (Tall Telephone), Forage Soybean (Tyrone)
Population: 250,000 ha-1 (Sorghum) and 150,000 ha-1 (Legumes)
SUMMARY
Acknowledgement: We thank USDA-CSREES-NRI-Water and Watersheds (Grant #2007-35102-18120) program for funding this research. We also thank the New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station for the support and Dr. Sharad Phatak, Univ of Georgia and Dr. Ray Smith, Texas A&M Univ for providing pigeon pea and lablab seeds, respectively. Technical help from Aaron Scott, Joleen Szaloy, Miguel Nunez, Cecily Strait, Jessie Nunej, Wahby Ahmed and others is greatly appreciated..
Identification of shade tolerant legume species for intercropping with forage sorghum for improving biomass production, resource use efficiency, and forage quality
Evaluate spatial arrangements of sorghum-legume intercropping systems to reduce competition and enhance complementary interaction
Test the intercropping systems under deficit irrigation management to assess sustainability under reduced water availability
Understand resource use patterns and competition in intercropping systems
Spatial extrapolation of results to the Southern Great Plains to estimate water savings over the region where sorghum+legume intercropping can be adopted
Dry
Mat
ter
(t h
a-1)
Days after seeding (d)
N
Figure 1. Experimental locations in relation to Ogallala aquifer and dairy industry.
WY
CO
NM
SD
OK
KS
TX
NE
Clovis, NM Tucumcari, NM
Ogallala Aquifer Region
Ogallala States
Fastest growing dairy industry in the country
N
Figure 2. Forage sorghum (cv. FS-5) and pole bean (cv. Genuine Cornfield) intercropping at Clovis, NM in 2009. Management practices are developed to apply most inputs uniformly over the area (eg. frequent pivot irrigation) and small seedlings do not have capacity to use those resources from the inter row area.
0.75 -1.0m
Evaporation
Leaching
OBJECTIVES
Preliminary results indicate that Sorghum+legume intercropping system is promising to improve forage productivity. Early in the season biomass contribution by legumes to total biomass is higher and it gradually decreases by the final harvest (≈ 5 -15%)
Intercropped legume improved radiation interception by using the sunlight not used by the sorghum crop. Improvement in radiation interception by intercropping systems lasted for the initial 65 days.
Selection of legumes is very important. Lablab, lima bean, cowpea are promising
Early maturity of legume varieties is a problem. Longer duration or more indeterminate legume varieties will improve intercropping systems further
Forage sorghum varieties with shorter stature or more erect leaves will also help the system
Results are also indicating better spatial arrangement to enhance light reaching legumes will improve system productivity. Under deficit irrigation, legume contribution may improve.
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Sole SorghumSorg + LablabSorg + Polebean
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 900
2
4
6
8
10
Inte
rcep
ted
PA
R (
%)
Figure 5. Seasonal pattern of biomass accumulation and light interception by sorghum legume intercropping system at Clovis, NM in 2008.
Figure 3. Promising legumes for intercropping (Tucumcari, NM in 2008).
Lima beanLablab
0
4
8
12
16
20
SoleSorghum
Sorghum+ Lablab
(Rio Verde)
Sorghum+ Lablab(Rongai)
Sorghum+ Soybean(Tyrone)
Sorghum+ Cowpea(Iron Clay)
Sorghum+ Lima bean(Willow leaf)
Sorghum+ Polebean(Genuine)
Dry
Mat
ter
(t h
a-1)
Figure 4. Biomass production by different sorghum legume intercropping systems at Clovis, NM in 2009.
Legume
Sorghum
