Intercropping medicinal plants is a new idea for forage production: A case study with ajowan and fenugreek

Biofertilizers has potential to improve crop productivity in a sustainable manner yet their impact on forage crops yields and forage quality indices have not been extensively explored. In this study, the impact of different cropping patterns and fertilizer sources on the forage yield and quality of ajowan (Carum copticum L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.) was investigated. The findings shed light on the importance of biofertilizer application as a sustainable solution for enhancing forage production and quality in agricultural systems. The experimental treatments involved six cropping patterns [ajowan monoculture, fenugreek monoculture, pea monoculture, intercropping of one row ajowan + one row fenugreek + one row pea (1:1:1), two rows ajowan + two rows fenugreek + two rows pea (2:2:2), and three rows ajowan + three rows fenugreek + three rows pea (3:3:3)] and five fertilizer sources [no fertilizer (control), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), chemical fertilizer + humic acid (CF + HU), chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (CF + BF), and humic acid + biofertilizer (HU + BF)]. The results revealed that the 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF had the highest N, P, and K concentrations for the three species. The monoculture systems with CF + BF produced the highest forage yields for ajowan (5492 kg/ha), fenugreek (3811 kg/ha), and pea (12,695 kg/ha). In addition, 2:2:2 intercrop fertilized with CF + BF produced the highest forage quality for all three species, decreasing the crude fiber, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber contents and increasing forage ASH, dry matter intake, water-soluble carbohydrates, and relative feed value. The 2:2:2 intercrop ratio combined with CF + BF application could be recommended to farmers as an eco-friendly strategy (decreasing chemical fertilizer use) for improving forage productivity and quality in sustainable agricultural systems.