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Two field experiments were conducted at Sids Experimental Agricultural Research Station, (ARC), in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons to (i) evaluate the performance of two varieties of barley as a multicut forage crop either in pure stand or intercropped with berseem and (ii) comparing berseem, barley and ryegrass as sole crops or intercropped to determine the best grass-legume combination for maximum yield and better forage quality. Total fresh forage yield of pure stand ryegrass was superior to those of barley cv. Giza 123 and barley cv. Giza 2000 by 13.61 and 15.03 t fed-1 , respectively. Barley cv. Giza 123 outyielded Giza 2000 by 1.42 t fed-1. Total fresh forage yield of intercropped berseem with barley cv. Giza 123 surpassed those of berseem + barley cv. Giza 2000 and berseem in pure stand by 10.8 and 11.4 percent, respectively. Total fresh forage yield of berseem + ryegrass was lower by 3.96 t fed-1 than that of berseem + barley cv. Giza 123, but higher by 1.27 and 1.49 t fed-1 than those of berseem + barley cv. Giza 2000 and berseem in pure stand, respectively. Barley cv. Giza 123 was better companion with berseem than cv. Giza 2000. Ryegrass showed better stand persistence and duration than the barley. Total dry forage yield followed the same trend of fresh forage yield, but the magnitude of difference was greater. Intercropping of berseem with forage grasses lead to improve forage quality through balancing crude protein (cp), Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and Ca/P ratio. It could be concluded that to maximize forage yield and its quality per unit area by intercropping barley cv. Giza 123 and Egyptian clover 50%:50%.

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A local ecotype of teosinte (Euchlaena mexicana Schrad.) and eight different maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes were crossed to generate eight crosses as well as their eight reciprocals to study the heterosis, nature of associations between dry forage yield and its contributing traits at the phenotypic level in addition to detect the relative importance of each yield component in determining plant dry forage yield variation through path coefficient analysis. The obtained results revealed that the two crosses ((P6 x P1 and P1 x P7) exhibited the maximum heterosis % over better parent for dry forage yield plant-1 in both seasons. These crosses could be considered as promising crosses for teosinte improvement. Correlation coefficients among studied traits indicated that dry forage yield was positively and significantly associated with tillers plant-1 and leaf area in both crosses and their reciprocals as well as with plant height in maize x teosinte crosses and with protein content in teosinte x maize crosses in both seasons as well as with stem diameter in 2008 season. The path coefficient analysis indicated that both number of tillers plant-1 and plant height had the highest positive direct effects on dry forage yield plant-1 in both maize x teosinte and teosinte x maize crosses during both seasons. Thus, dry forage yield improvement can be achieved through selection for more tillers and taller plants.

Two field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during 2008 and summer seasons, to study the intercropping of forage cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., var. Buff) with maize (Zea mays L.), stay green and single cross hybrid 122. The experiment was planted at the 1 st of July after wheat in both seasons. The experimental design was a split-split plot design arranged in randomized complete blocks with three replicates. The main plots were devoted to three intercropping patterns: 1) Maize on one side of the ridge and forage cowpea on the other side, 2) Solid maize, 3) Solid forage cowpea. Subplots were arranged with plant density of forage cowpea, one and two plants hill -1 at 20 cm between hills. Sub-sub plots were four nitrogen levels viz., zero, 60, 90 and 120 kg N fed. -1 N was added in two equal doses after 21 and 60 days from planting (after the 1 st cut of forage cowpea).The results indicated significant differences between intercropping patterns, plant density and nitrogen levels for dry yield. Light intensity at top, middle and bottom of cowpea and maize were obtained at each cut in both seasons. Light intensity under solid cowpea was greater for the three levels of light intensity reading than intercropped cowpea plants. At the top of intercropped cowpea plants, light intensity was greater as compared with readings at the middle and bottom of plants. At the middle, light intensity was greater for solid cowpea compared to intercropped cowpea. One plant hill -1 was superior to two plants hill -1 in light intensity at top, middle and bottom of cowpea plants intercropped with maize at each cut in both seasons. The percentage of increases in light intensity gave lower values between the two plant intensities, it could be recommended with planting two plants hill -1 when intercropped cowpea with maize for obtaining high dry forage yield of cowpea. Nitrogen application was significantly decreased light intensity at top, middle and bottom plant of forage cowpea at each cut in both seasons. Nitrogen from zero to 120 kg N fed -1 caused reduction in light intensity, While total dry forage yield of cowpea was increased. The highest value of light intensity was obtained by solid cowpea, one plant hill -1 and zero nitrogen fed -1 , while the lowest value of light intensity was at intercropped cowpea with maize, two plants hill -1 and 120 kg N fed. -1 For maize plants there were significant differences in light intensity as affected by intercropping patterns at top, middle bottom of maize plants in both seasons except between intercropping two plants hill -1 of cowpea with maize and solid maize at top plant before the 1 st cut of cowpea in the first season. Nitrogen levels was significantly decreased light intensity at top, middle and bottom plant of maize, with not significant differences between 90 and 120 kg N fed. -1 While, grain yield and dry stover yield were increased. Zero N level had the highest value of light intensity ...