Effect of intercropping forage peas (Pisum sativum L.) with winter wheat (Tritium vulgare L.) or triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.) on DM yield, nutritive characteristics when harvested at different stages of growth
J. L. Jacobs A B and G. N. Ward AA Department of Primary Industries, 78 Henna Street, Warrnambool, Vic. 3280, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: joe.jacobs@dpi.vic.gov.au
Animal Production Science 52(10) 949-958 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12005
Submitted: 6 January 2012 Accepted: 20 April 2012 Published: 26 June 2012
Abstract
An experiment was undertaken over 2 years (2007–09) to determine the effect of intercropping forage peas with either forage winter wheat or triticale for whole-crop silage. Monocultures of triticale (T100), wheat (W100) and forage peas (P100) and plus cereal–pea combinations of 75% triticale : 25% pea (T75), 50% triticale : 50% pea (T50), 25% triticale : 75% pea (T25), 75% wheat : 25% pea (W75), 50% wheat : 50% pea (W50), 25% wheat : 75% pea (W25), with ratios based on sowing rate, were evaluated for DM yield and nutritional characteristics at a range of growth stages. It was hypothesised that an increase in the ratio of peas to cereal would not adversely affect DM yield and would have a positive impact on nutritive characteristics across a range of harvest times based on growth stages of the cereal component of mixes. In Year 1, at the boot stage of growth of cereals, P100 had a lower DM yield than W100 and all triticale-based treatments, while in Year 2 P100 had a lower DM yield than all other treatments. By the soft dough growth stage in Year 1, all triticale treatments except T25 had higher DM yields than P100 and in Year 2 P100 had a lower DM yield than all triticale treatments and W100. The crude protein (CP) concentration of P100 at the boot stage of growth was higher than T100, T75, T50, W100 and W50 in Year 1 and all treatments in Year 2. At soft dough, P100 had a higher CP concentration than all other treatments in both years, while T25 and W25 had higher CP concentrations than their respective monocultures. In Year 1 at soft dough, W100 had a lower estimated ME concentration than other wheat treatments and P100, while in Year 2, T50 and W50 had higher values than T100 and W100, respectively. Bi-cropping forage peas with winter cereal forage crops did not adversely affect DM yields at a range of different harvest times, but did not consistently and significantly improve nutritive characteristics. Despite relatively high sowing rates of forage peas, their total contribution in mixes with cereals to DM yield was low, indicating that their ability to compete with winter cereals under the high fertility conditions of the experiment was low. When grown as a monoculture peas tended to produce lower DM yields but had higher CP concentrations and a higher harvested CP/ha at the soft dough stage of growth. The timing of harvesting will affect DM yields and nutritive characteristics and can be manipulated depending upon the end use of the feed grown and also to allow greater flexibility in the sowing of subsequent forages. Consideration should also be given to the growing of monocultures of winter cereals and forage peas and developing systems to mix during ensiling to capture both DM yield potential and optimum nutritive characteristics.
References
Adesogan AT, Salawu MB, Deaville ER (2002) The effect on the voluntary feed intake, in vivo digestibility and nitrogen balance in sheep of feeding grass silage or pea-wheat intercrops differing in pea to wheat ratio and maturity. Animal Feed Science and Technology 96, 161–173.| The effect on the voluntary feed intake, in vivo digestibility and nitrogen balance in sheep of feeding grass silage or pea-wheat intercrops differing in pea to wheat ratio and maturity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Åman P, Graham H (1987) Whole crop peas. I. Changes in botanical and chemical composition and rumen in vitro degradability during maturation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 17, 15–31.
| Whole crop peas. I. Changes in botanical and chemical composition and rumen in vitro degradability during maturation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anil L, Park J, Phipps RH, Miller F (1998) Temperate intercropping of cereals for forage: review of the potential for growth and utilisation with particular reference to the UK. Grass and Forage Science 53, 301–317.
| Temperate intercropping of cereals for forage: review of the potential for growth and utilisation with particular reference to the UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bastiman B (1976) Factors affecting silage effluent production. Experimental Husbandry 31, 40–46.
Borreani G, Peiretti PG, Tabacco E (2007) Effect of harvest time on yield and pre harvest quality of semi-leafless grain peas (Pisum sativum L.) as whole crop forage. Field Crops Research 100, 1–9.
| Effect of harvest time on yield and pre harvest quality of semi-leafless grain peas (Pisum sativum L.) as whole crop forage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chapman DF, Kenny SN, Beca D, Johnson IR (2008a) Pasture and forage crop systems for non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia. 1. Physical production and economic performance. Agricultural Systems 97, 108–125.
| Pasture and forage crop systems for non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia. 1. Physical production and economic performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chapman DF, Kenny SN, Beca D, Johnson IR (2008b) Pasture and forage crop systems for non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia. 2. Inter-annual variation in forage supply, risk and business risk. Agricultural Systems 97, 126–138.
| Pasture and forage crop systems for non-irrigated dairy farms in southern Australia. 2. Inter-annual variation in forage supply, risk and business risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke T, Flinn PC, McGowan AA (1982) Low cost pepsin-cellulase assays for prediction of digestibility of herbage. Grass and Forage Science 37, 147–150.
| Low cost pepsin-cellulase assays for prediction of digestibility of herbage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Ruiter JM, Hanson R, Hay AS, Armstrong KW, Harrison-Kirk RD (2002) Whole crop cereals for grazing and silage: balancing quality and quantity. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Conference 64, 181–189.
Doyle PT, Stockdale CR, Lawson AR, Cohen DC (2000) ‘Pastures for dairy production in Victoria.’ 2nd edn. (Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Kyabram, Vic.)
Genstat Committee (2008) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 11th edn. (VSN International: Hertfordshire, UK)
Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Ambus P, Jensen ES (2001) Interspecific competition, N use and interference with weeds in pea-barley intercropping. Field Crops Research 70, 101–109.
| Interspecific competition, N use and interference with weeds in pea-barley intercropping.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hill J, Leaver JD (1999) Effect of stage of growth at harvest and level of urea application on chemical changes during storage of whole crop wheat. Animal Feed Science and Technology 77, 281–301.
| Effect of stage of growth at harvest and level of urea application on chemical changes during storage of whole crop wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXpslWjtw%3D%3D&md5=e1c684a9e627534aeb885ede2181e15aCAS |
Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian soil classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Jacobs JL, Hill J, Jenkin T (2009a) Effect of stage of growth and silage additives on whole crop cereal silage nutritive value and fermentation characteristics. Animal Production Science 49, 595–607.
| Effect of stage of growth and silage additives on whole crop cereal silage nutritive value and fermentation characteristics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXntVGktbw%3D&md5=bb3e1d5a93e6ce39172810eb8ce94252CAS |
Jacobs JL, Hill J, Jenkin T (2009b) Effect of different grazing strategies on dry matter yields and nutritive characteristics of whole crop cereals. Animal Production Science 49, 608–618.
| Effect of different grazing strategies on dry matter yields and nutritive characteristics of whole crop cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaiser AG, Dear BS, Morris SG (2007) An evaluation of the yield and quality of oat-legume and ryegrass-legume mixtures and legume monocultures harvested at three stages of growth for silage. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 25–38.
| An evaluation of the yield and quality of oat-legume and ryegrass-legume mixtures and legume monocultures harvested at three stages of growth for silage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keating BA, Carberry PS (1993) Resource capture and use in intercropping: solar radiation. Field Crops Research 34, 273–301.
| Resource capture and use in intercropping: solar radiation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kristensen VF (1992) The production and feeding of whole crop cereals and legumes in Denmark. In ‘Whole crop cereals’. (Eds BA Stark, JM Wilkinson) pp. 21–38. (Chalcombe Publications: Canterbury, UK)
Lithourgidis AS, Vlachostergios DN, Dordas CA, Damalas CA (2011) Dry matter yield, nitrogen content, and competition in pea-cereal intercropping systems. European Journal of Agronomy 34, 287–294.
| Dry matter yield, nitrogen content, and competition in pea-cereal intercropping systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mason WK, Pritchard KE (1987) Intercropping in a temperate environment for irrigated fodder production. Field Crops Research 16, 243–253.
| Intercropping in a temperate environment for irrigated fodder production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mead R, Willey RW (1980) The concept of a land equivalent ratio and advantages in yields for intercropping. Experimental Agriculture 16, 217–228.
| The concept of a land equivalent ratio and advantages in yields for intercropping.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1990) UK tables of nutritive value and chemical composition of feeding stuffs. In ‘Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Standing Committee on Table of Feed Composition’. (Eds DI Givens, JR Hopkins, AR Moss) (Rowett Research Services Ltd: Aberdeen, UK)
Mustafa AF, Seguin P (2004) Chemical composition and in-vitro digestibility of whole-crop pea and pea-cereal mixture silages grown in south western Quebec. Journal Agronomy & Crop Science 190, 416–421.
| Chemical composition and in-vitro digestibility of whole-crop pea and pea-cereal mixture silages grown in south western Quebec.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtFejtb3M&md5=3d35f6d052ca19f19ff32d7d328ed041CAS |
Nie ZN, Chapman DF, Tharmaraj J, Clements R (2004) Effects of pasture species mixture, management and environment on the productivity and persistence of dairy pastures in south west Victoria. 1. Herbage accumulation and seasonal growth pattern. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55, 625–636.
| Effects of pasture species mixture, management and environment on the productivity and persistence of dairy pastures in south west Victoria. 1. Herbage accumulation and seasonal growth pattern.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Salawu MB, Adesogan AT, Weston CN, Williams SP (2001) Dry matter yield and nutritive value of pea/wheat bi-crops differing in maturity at harvest, pea to wheat ratio and pea variety. Animal Feed Science and Technology 94, 77–87.
| Dry matter yield and nutritive value of pea/wheat bi-crops differing in maturity at harvest, pea to wheat ratio and pea variety.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shenk JS, Westerhaus MO (1991) Population definition, sample selection and calibration procedures for near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Crop Science 31, 469–474.
| Population definition, sample selection and calibration procedures for near infrared reflectance spectroscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Soest PJ, Wine RH (1967) Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IV. Determination of plant cell wall constituents. Journal of Official Analytical Chemists 50, 50–55.
Zadoks JC, Chang TT, Konzak CF (1974) A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Research 14, 415–421.
| A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
