Forage potential of sorghum-clover intercropping systems in semi-arid conditions

The use of alternative irrigation and cropping systems in forage production may alleviate the water scarcity in semi‐arid regions

“…Sorghum has a fibrous root system that is similar to corn whereas amaranth has a relatively deep taproot that can penetrate as far as 1 m into the soil. 9,13,16 Additionally, the considerable variation in the aerial height of sorghum and amaranth creates a wavy shape canopy which may result in a higher interception of irradiance. The availability of more soil moisture and more light interception increases dry matter production.…”

“…10 Therefore, the cultivation of sorghum as an alternative forage to corn silage and the adoption of the intercropping system instead of traditional monoculture may result in more dry matter per drop of water. [11][12][13] Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a C 4 crop with a fast growth rate and high productivity and is known as a tolerant crop to heat and drought stresses. 13 Drought tolerance of sorghum is due to its unique morphological, physiological, and anatomical characteristics.…”

“…Drought tolerance of sorghum is due to its unique morphological, physiological, and anatomical characteristics 14 . In addition to its high photosynthetic capacity, the deep and extensive root system of sorghum makes it a superior crop for arid and semi‐arid regions 13 . Amaranth ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) also is a C 4 pseudocereal with high forage quality and efficient water consumption.…”

“…19,20 Reports indicated that compared with sole cropping, intercropping of forage crops has resulted in higher dry matter yield in arid and semi-arid regions. 21,13 Better performance of intercropping systems has been attributed to more efficient use of limited resources for crop growth, improved natural soil fertility by better supporting soil biology, less population of pests and pathogens, and reduced level of plant competition. 22,23 However, crop species and their ratio in an intercropping system play a crucial role in the magnitude of saving irrigation water.…”

Effect of water stress on yield stability, water productivity, and canopy temperature of rice genotypes

“…In recent years, climate change and the subsequent increase in the incidents and duration of drought have threatened crop production and food security (Balazadeh et al, 2021;Farhadi et al, 2022). Drought stress is one of the most significant factors limiting crop yield, it has different effects at different stages of plant development and profoundly affects agricultural systems and food production (Golzardi et al, 2017;Ashoori et al, 2021;Baghdadi et al, 2021). However, rice requires a large amount of water for its growth and development (Sabouri et al, 2022), and drought is the most critical limiting factor for rice growth and production (Pandey and Shukla, 2015).…”