HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Armstrong, K. L. Articles by Albrecht, K. A. PubMed Articles by Armstrong, K. L. Articles by Albrecht, K. A. Agricola Articles by Armstrong, K. L. Articles by Albrecht, K. A. Related Collections Forage Management Maize Other Forage Crops

Effect of Plant Density on Forage Yield and Quality of Intercropped Corn and Lablab Bean

^a Dep. of Crop Sciences, Univ. of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
^b 1575 Linden Dr., Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706. This research was partially supported by funding through USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) Hatch Project WIS04802

^* Corresponding author (karmstro{at}uiuc.edu).

Low crude protein (CP) concentration in corn (Zea mays L.) silage is its major dietary limitation in dairy rations. In this experiment, four densities of corn (20,000, 40,000, 60,000, and 80,000 plants ha^–1) and four densities of lablab bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] (0, 40,000, 80,000, 120,000 plants ha^–1) were intercropped to determine the optimal planting density in terms of forage yield, nutritive value, estimated milk production, and forage nutrient value. Experiments were conducted near Arlington and Lancaster, WI. Corn was sown in late April and lablab bean was sown in rows 8 cm beside corn rows 2 wk after corn planting. Averaged over locations, forage dry matter (DM) yield ranged from 11 Mg ha^–1 to 20 Mg ha^–1 as corn plant density increased from 20,000 to 80,000 plants ha^–1. Lablab bean increased CP concentration by 22 g kg^–1 DM between corn densities of 80,000 plants ha^–1 and 20,000 plants ha^–1 at a bean density of 120,000 plants ha^–1. Calculated milk ha^–1 values ranged from 17,500 kg ha^–1 to 34,400 kg ha^–1 as corn plant density increased from 20,000 to 80,000 plants ha^–1. This experiment does not show benefit to addition of lablab bean into high producing corn stands. Corn sown at a density of 80,000 plants ha^–1 and 0 bean plants ha^–1 is recommended to maximize forage DM yield, milk ha^–1, and crop value. Alternatively, addition of lablab bean into low density corn stands did increase CP concentration and feed nutrient value of the forage.

Abbreviations: CP, crude protein • DIP, degradable intake protein • DM, dry matter • EE, ether extract • IVTD, in vitro true digestibility • NDF, neutral detergent fiber • NDFd, neutral detergent fiber digestibility • SECV, standard error of cross validation • UIP, undegradable intake protein

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.