The potential of intercropping oats with lupins or peas for forage production

Abstract

In a one year field experiment carried out at Lincoln College in 1984-85, oats (Avena sativa cv. Anvil) were intercropped with Lupins (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniharvest) or Peas (pisum sativum Cv. Whero). Dry matter accumulation, land equivalent ratio (LER) and nitrogen yield obtained for these combinations were compared with values obtained in similar density sole oat, lupin and pea plots. In 1985-86 Tama ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium cv. Grassland Tama) was grown in all plots and its dry matter and nitrogen production measured.

Dry matter yield of all crops compared favourably with values published previously. At all harvests, dry matter yield for at least some intercrop combinations was as great or greater than that obtained in all sole crop plots. At all harvests LER for most intercrop combinations was considerably greater (up to 1.59) than sole crop unity. Nitrogen yield of the intercrop herbage (oat/legume combined) was higher than that of sole oats and the value for the oat/lupin combination was greater than that obtained for all sole crops. Dry matter yield of Tama was greater following most intercropping combinations than when following sole oats. The value for oat/lupin combinations was higher than that obtained in sole lupin plots.

It is concluded that intercropping oat with lupins or peas has the potential to yield well under Canterbury conditions. Given appropriate management practices, this system could become a useful and potentially profitable forage cropping alternative or be used to compliment existing systems.