Legume integration and zinc fortification enhanced yield and quality of maize-based forage systems

The synergistic effects of maize-legume intercropping and zinc fortification were studied on forage yield, quality and profitability in the temperate climate of Kashmir in the years 2020 and 2021. Treatment sets included five cropping systems viz. sole maize, sole cowpea, sole soybean, maize + cowpea (2:1), maize + soybean (2:1) and three zinc levels; Zn0= control, Zn1 = 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 (basal soil application) and Zn2 = 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 (basal soil application) + 0.5% ZnSO4 spray twice (30 DAS and 50 DAS). Among the cropping systems, sole maize recorded the highest green (45.57 t ha-1) and dry (13.82 t ha-1) fodder yield, followed by maize + soybean intercropping. Soil + foliar zinc application (Zn2) recorded an increase of 10% in green fodder and a 33% increase in dry fodder over control (Zn0). Maize + legume intercropping significantly increased dry matter intake (2.14 and 2.13%), digestible dry matter (62.62 and 61.99%) and total digestible nutrients (64.22 and 63.77%) in maize + cowpea and maize + soybean intercropped systems, respectively, over sole maize. Maize + legume intercropping also improved relative feed value over sole maize and produced good quality fodder. Zinc fertilization significantly increased relative feed value from 106.30% in Zn0 to 111.61% in Zn1 and 116.38% in Zn2. Application of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg as soil application + 0.5% ZnSO4 sprayed twice at 30 and 50 DAS to maize + soybean/cowpea intercropping (2:1) system resulted in enhanced yield, better quality and higher profitability.