INTERCROPPING MULTIPURPOSE TREES (MORINGA, ALBIZIA AND LEUCAENA) WITH MAIZE AND ITS UTILIZATION AS DRY SEASON FEEDS FOR RUMINANTS IN SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH, NIGERIA

Abstract

A field trial was carried out to investigate the suitable cropping pattern in browse trees (Moringa, Albizia, and Leucanea)/maize system and their utilization as dry season fodders. Full population of browse trees were intercropped with full population and fifty percent population of maize in a 2x3 factorial in split plot arrangement and replicated four times. Cropping pattern involving combinations of full population of browse trees and maize recorded higher plant height than those involving intercropping combination of 50% full population. Sole maize significantly had longer cobs than those at the intercrops. There was no significant difference in maize cob length between the three cropping patterns. Number of seed/cob of maize at combination of 50% full maize with browse trees were higher than when full population of maize was intercropped. Intercropping involving maize at full population produced higher grain yield than 50% full population. The highest grain yield (2.33t/ha) at the intercrop was obtained at combination of full population of maize with Albizia. Sole maize significantly performed better than the intercrop in grain yield. All the browse species evaluated at the intercrops were high in crude protein concentration with moderate value of Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL). The three browse plant species were accepted by the goats toward the end of the experiment indicating the browse species intercropped with maize to be a suitable feed for ruminants to ameliorate dry season feed deficit and enhances food security through the production of maize.