Forage production potential of oat (Avena sativa) - lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping systems

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2016–17 at Navsari, Gujarat to study the forage production potential of oat (Avena sativa) - Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping under sole and intercropping systems. Intercropping system had significant effect on green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, land equivalent ratio, gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio. The results of the experiment showed significant increase in green fodder yield of oat and lucerne, dry fodder yield of oat under different row ratios. However, oat + Lucerne intercropping system in the row ratio of 2:1 recorded significantly highest total green fodder yield (991.14 q ha⁻¹) as well as significantly higher dry fodder yield (114.12 q ha⁻¹) of oat. The maximum land equivalent ratio (1.44), gross returns (₹ 198225 ha⁻¹), net returns (166341 ha⁻¹) and benefit: cost ratio (6.22) was recorded under the same treatment.