Abstract
Context In developing countries there is a preference to grow food crops rather than forage. However, suitable food–fodder based systems ensure year-round green fodder availability for profitable livestock production. Aims This study aimed to determine whether including single cut Egyptian clover (SEC) in the existing cropping systems could improve system productivity, forage availability and economic returns. Method Nine SEC based cropping systems were tested in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Key results Sorghum–SEC–wheat (late sown) cropping system produced 18% greater wheat equivalent yield compared with a popularly adopted sorghum–wheat system (8.9 Mg ha-1). The water productivity (1.80 kg m-3) of this system was also improved in the sorghum–multi-cut Egyptian clover system (1.74 kg m-3). There was a marginal increase in dry matter yield and crude protein content of the succeeding sorghum crop when it was rotated with Egyptian clover. The inclusion of Egyptian clover also improved the soil organic carbon (23%) and available nitrogen (15%) compared with cereal–cereal systems. The findings identify a sustainable intensification option in the sorghum-based cropping system with short duration Egyptian clover (single cut) as an economically feasible and ecologically effective approach. Conclusion Integration of single cut Egyptian clover in sorghum–wheat rotation as a catch crop recorded greater system productivity, water-use efficiency and economic returns to achieve the sustainable crop intensification. Implication The SEC can be an effective option for diversification and intensification of cropping systems to improve fodder availability, yield, boost income and improve soil health.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Sorghum–SEC–late-sown wheat produced 18% more wheat equivalent yield than sorghum–wheat.
- Treatment
- Sorghum–SEC–wheat (late sown)e0
- Outcome
- wheat equivalent yielde0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- 18%e0
- Qualifier
- 8.9 Mg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- sorghum–wheat systeme0
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sorghum–SEC–wheat (late sown) cropping system produced 18% greater wheat equivalent yield compared with a popularly adopted sorghum–wheat system (8.9 Mg ha-1).”
Claim · model-written summary
The system had water productivity of 1.80 kg m-3, above the sorghum–multi-cut Egyptian clover system at 1.74 kg m-3.
- Treatment
- Egyptian clovert0
- Outcome
- water productivitye0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 1.80 kg m-3e0
- Qualifier
- 1.74 kg m-3e0
- Comparator
- sorghum–multi-cut Egyptian clover systeme0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The water productivity (1.80 kg m-3) of this system was also improved in the sorghum–multi-cut Egyptian clover system (1.74 kg m-3).”
t0“Egyptian clover”
Claim · model-written summary
Rotating sorghum with Egyptian clover marginally raised dry matter yield.
- Treatment
- rotated with Egyptian clovere0
- Outcome
- dry matter yielde0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Qualifier
- marginale0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was a marginal increase in dry matter yield and crude protein content of the succeeding sorghum crop when it was rotated with Egyptian clover.”
Claim · model-written summary
Rotating sorghum with Egyptian clover marginally raised crude protein content.
- Treatment
- rotated with Egyptian clovere0
- Outcome
- crude protein contente0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Qualifier
- marginale0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was a marginal increase in dry matter yield and crude protein content of the succeeding sorghum crop when it was rotated with Egyptian clover.”
Claim · model-written summary
Egyptian clover inclusion improved soil organic carbon by 23% relative to cereal–cereal systems.
Verbatim
e0“The inclusion of Egyptian clover also improved the soil organic carbon (23%) and available nitrogen (15%) compared with cereal–cereal systems.”
Claim · model-written summary
Egyptian clover inclusion improved soil available nitrogen by 15% relative to cereal–cereal systems.
Verbatim
e0“The inclusion of Egyptian clover also improved the soil organic carbon (23%) and available nitrogen (15%) compared with cereal–cereal systems.”
Claim · model-written summary
Integrating single cut Egyptian clover into sorghum–wheat rotation is proposed to improve productivity, water efficiency, and returns.
- Outcome
- Integration of single cut Egyptian clover in sorghum–wheat rotation as a catch crope0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Integration of single cut Egyptian clover in sorghum–wheat rotation as a catch crop recorded greater system productivity, water-use efficiency and economic returns to achieve the sustainable crop intensification.”
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.