Forage Potential of Intercropping Berseem Clover with Barley, Oat, or Triticale

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Intercropping berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with silage cereals may increase forage yield and quality. Berseem clover was intercropped with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), or triticale (×Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm.) at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 cereal plants m−2 at Edmonton, Alberta, from 1998 to 2001. Cereals dominated Cut 1 (silage‐stage) yield, and berseem clover dominated regrowth yield. As cereal density decreased from 240 to 60 plants m−2, Cut 1 yield decreased from 10.5 to 9.3 Mg ha−1 dry matter (DM), berseem clover percentage of Cut 1 increased from 5 to 14%, and berseem clover regrowth yield (Cut 2) increased from 1.8 to 3.0 Mg ha−1 DM. Total season intercrop yields with barley or oat at 60 plants m−2 were ≥yields with 240 plants m−2. Total season intercrop DM yields did not differ among the three cereal species in 3 of 4 yr. Triticale intercrops had advantages of greater Cut 1 yield and greater berseem clover percentage in Cut 1. Barley intercrops had advantages of greater Cut 2 yield and greater total season protein yield. Greater Cut 2 yield with barley intercrops was related to earlier silage‐stage (Cut 1) harvest date. Intercropping berseem clover with reduced seeding rates of cereals improved Cut 1 forage quality. When berseem clover was 20% of Cut 1 yield, neutral detergent fiber was 25 to 45 g kg−1 less than with cereals alone. The crude protein of berseem clover regrowth averaged 210 g kg−1, providing high quality late‐season forage.