Agro-qualitative studies on forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) sown alone and in mixture with forage legumes.

Agro-qualitative response of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) sown alone and in mixture with forage legumes was studied through field experiment conducted during the first week of April 2009 at farmer's field at Sahiwal. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising of treatments as T1= Sorghum broad casted, T2= Sorghum at 30 cm apart rows, T3= Broad cast of blended sorghum and cowpea seeds, T4= Blended sorghum and cowpea seeds at 30 cm apart rows, T5= Broad cast of blended sorghum and cluster bean seeds, T6= Blended sorghum and cluster bean seeds at 30 cm apart rows, T7=Broad cast of blended sorghum, cluster bean and cowpea seeds, T8=Blended sorghum, cluster bean and cowpea seeds at 30 cm apart rows, T9= Sorghum sown at 30 cm apart rows and cowpea in between the rows and T10= Sorghum sown at 30 cm apart rows and cluster bean in between the rows. The treatments were replicated thrice with a net plot size was 6 m × 4.5 m. All growth, yield and quality parameters were significantly affected by different geometrical arrangement and intercropping systems. Sorghum sown alone in 30 cm apart rows (T2) produced maximum plant population of 47 plants m -2 , plant height (203.60 cm), number of leaves per plant (11.23), leaf area (2684.60 cm 2 ), green forage yield (49.66 t ha -1 ) and dry matter yield of sorghum (20.50 t ha -1 ) . Sorghum sown in 30 cm apart rows and intercropped with cluster bean in between the rows (T9) produced significantly higher mixed green forage yield of 69.98 t ha -1 and dry matter yield of 25.37 t ha -1 . The maximum crude protein (14.94 %) and ash (10.34 %) was recorded in treatment T8 when blended the seeds of sorghum, cluster bean and cowpea sown in 30 cm apart rows but highest crude fiber (24.15 %) in T1 where sorghum sown alone by broad cast method. Current study revealed that quality and quantity of forage sorghum mixed with forage legumes can be obtained by growing forage sorghum in 30 cm apart rows and cluster bean in between the rows.