Synergistic effect of intercropping patterns and nitrogen strategies on yield traits, efficiency metrics and economics outcomes in fodder system

The experiment was carried out to study the agronomic interventions for maximising productivity in fodder cereal + pulse intercropping system during kharif (June–September 2024). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. The experiment consists of 11 treatments, viz., T1: fodder sorghum alone (recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)), T2: fodder maize alone (RDN), T3: fodder cowpea alone (RDN), T4: fodder sorghum + fodder cowpea (No RDN to fodder sorghum), T5: fodder maize + fodder cowpea (No RDN to fodder maize), T6: fodder sorghum + fodder cowpea (50 % RDN to fodder sorghum), T7: fodder maize + fodder cowpea (50 % RDN to fodder maize), T8: fodder sorghum + fodder cowpea (75 % RDN to fodder sorghum), T9: fodder maize + fodder cowpea (75 % RDN to fodder maize), T10: fodder sorghum + fodder cowpea (100 % RDN to fodder sorghum), T11: fodder maize + fodder cowpea (100 % RDN to fodder maize). Among the sole cropping systems, applying 100 % RDN to fodder maize resulted in the highest green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, yield efficiency and economic returns. In intercropping systems, the combination of fodder maize and fodder cowpea, with 100 % RDN applied to the maize, delivered the best performance in terms of green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, yield efficiency and profitability. It was statistically on par with the treatment combination of fodder maize + fodder cowpea with 75 % RDN to fodder maize. The results highlight that intercropping fodder maize with fodder cowpea allows for a reduction in nitrogen (N) fertiliser application (up to 25 %) without compromising yield or profitability, thereby improving nutrient-use efficiency and sustainability.