The effect of intercropping and pure cropping of alfalfa with 3 rangeland grass species on Forage Dry Matter and Crude protein yield in dry land farming condition

ABSTRACT: In according to evaluate yield quality and quantity of alfalfa lay with 3 rangeland grass species, an experiment was conducted with pure and intercropping proportion of grass and alfalfa in randomized complete block design with 3 replications in dry land farming in two years (2008-2009). It was done in Research Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kermanshah Province, Iran. Results of combined analysis in two years experiment showed that, combination of %25Agropyron and %75 Medicago sativa with producing 4176 kg hey and 318 kg crude protein per hectare had the highest yield than other crop combinations. Generally the best combination proportion of Medicago sativa with grass the ratio of about two-thirds of Medicago sativa and one- third of grass is recommendable. It seems that intercropping of alfalfa with grass is a good way to increase yield and production stability per area in low yield dry lands.