Silage of Intercropping Corn, Palisade Grass, and Pigeon Pea Increases Protein Content and Reduces In Vitro Methane Production

Abstract

Legume–grass intercropping systems are a sustainable option to improve nutritional quality of animal feed and decrease livestock greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the present study evaluated yield, chemical composition and in vitro gas production of silages produced with intercropped palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha.(A.Rich.) R.D.Webster), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan cv. Super N) and corn (Zea mays. L.). Forage was harvested and placed inside micro-silos, which were opened after 100 days and samples were collected for chemical composition and in vitro gas production analyses. Intercropped silage had higher crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and lignin content than corn silage. Moreover, intercropped silage decreased total gas and methane production. Therefore, intercropped silage showed potential to increase conserved feed nutritional quality and reduce methane emissions in livestock production systems.