EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING WHEAT WITH FODDER BEET UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF N- APPLICATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY

Two field trials were carried out at Sids Experimental Research Station, ARC, Beni Sueif Governorate through 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons to study the effect of intercropping wheat with fodder beet under different N fertilizer rates on yield, yield components and chemical composition. The intercropping treatment was planting wheat on the back ridges 120 cm wide, in four rows (50 % of solid crop), while the treatments of N fertilizer were 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg N/ fad. The treatments were assigned in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The results indicated that the application of N significantly increased wheat grains yield/ fad. The increases in grains yield/ fad. were 9.91, 25.44 and 35.24 % for 90, 110 and 130 kg N/ fad., compared with that of adding 70 kg N/ fad. Roots yield/ fad. of fodder beet was significantly increased by increasing N fertilizer level. The increases in roots yield/fad. were 6.80, 25.89 and 28.74 %, compared with that of adding 70 kg N/ fad. Chemical compositions for fodder beet (crude protein, ash, total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein) of fodder beet were significantly increased by increasing N fertilizer level, while crude fibers take an opposite trend. Intercropping fodder beet with wheat increased land equivalent ratio in the average of both seasons by 1.21, 1.07, 1.15 and 1.22%, when adding 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg N fertilizer/fad., respectively. The total income was calculated by L.E. 4063.81, 5838.00, 6542.50 and 6838.80 for 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg N/ fad., respectively. The highest return between growing fodder beet as sole crop and its growing with wheat was collected when adding 130 kg N/ fad (2718.80 L.E.).