Chemical composition and <i>in vitro</i> digestibility of desho grass intercropped with selected vetch species at different row spacing in Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Grass-legume intercrops are preferred over monocultures due to their several advantages, as mixing grass with forage legumes can improve the biomass yield and quality of the forage over pure grass. This study evaluated the effects of intercropping vetch species at different row spacings on the quality of desho grass. The study was designed in a factorial arrangement with a randomized complete block design with three inter-row spacings (0.50 m, 0.75 m and 1 m) and intercropping of desho grass with two vetch species (Vicia sativa and Vicia dasycarpa) using three replications. The chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of the forage samples were determined based on standard methods. The findings showed that the chemical composition of desho grass was not affected by row spacing or by the interaction of intercropping and spacing (p > 0.05). Intercropping increased the crude protein (CP) content and decreased the fiber content of the desho grass. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) of desho grass increased in response to intercropping (p < 0.05) but were not affected by spacing or their interaction. In conclusion, growing desho grass by intercropping with the two vetch species at different spacings positively impacted the nutritional value of desho grass. Desho grass intercropped with both vetches species had better forage quality.