Abstract:
In a farmer participatory process, farmers in Masaka district, Uganda, identified intensive dairy farming characterized
by improved cattle breeds as potentially viable enterprise to enhance income of resource poor households. Inadequate
feeds during the dry season is however a major constraint leading to low animal productivity. To alleviate this concern,
a study on maize/Iablab intercropping was done with the objective to evaluate the effects of intercropping forage
legumes with maize on grain and fodder production. Results showed that maize/Iablab intercropping increased (p<0.05)
fodder, grain yields and cob size by 32; 7; and 6% compared to nionocrops. Fodderand grain yields were 11 and 2%
lower (p>0.05) in the short rain season than in long rain season. Crude protein (CP) content and CPY increased
(p<0.05) 1.2 and 2.2 times in intercrops than monocrops (4% CP and 175 kg/ha). Overall, this study revealed that
la blab could be introduced as a component crop in maize cropping systems to improve fodderand food availability.