Plant density of forage sorghum and maize intercropped with star grass (Cynodom nlemfuensis) at sowing

in a random block design. with a factorial arrangement the effect of the co ntrol treatment (star ig-mm alone) or star grass intercropped with maize (Z ea mays L.) and forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). was studied assessing bio mass yield and star grass establishment. Sowing dosages were: 7. 14 and 28 kg'ha ofseed at star gmss sowing. The height ofstar L not differ from the c ontrol with the three maize sowing dosages until the third cut. Star grass height was affected by sorghum (P < 0.001) in all-sowing dosages except for 7 kg of seeds/ha in the third cut. In the fourth and fifth cuts, there was not affect of the crops and the sowing dosage on star grass height. A simi lar performance was found in the covered by star grass. The number of stolo ns/m(2) in the first cut was higher (P, 0.001),when star grass was planted alone or with maize compared to any of the sorghum treatment. Yield (t/ha D M) in the 5 cuts was higher (P 0.001) when the star grass was planted alone or intercropped with maize compared to any of the sorghum treatment,;. Acc umulated yield of star grass in five cuts (13.93 t/ha DM) washigher (P < 0. 001) when it was intercropped with 7 kg of maize seeds/ha. The highest tota l yield (star grass crop). in the first two cuts. was obtained when forage sorghum was intercropped which differed (P < 0.001) from the control and fr om the star grass intercropped with maize. The opposite occurred in the 3(r d) and 4(th) cuts. In the fifth cut there was no effect. The cumulative to the yield in the five cuts. was highest (17-19 t/ha) in star grass (P < 0.0 01) when 14 and 28 kg of forage sorghum seed/ha were intercropped. It is co ncluded that in red ferrallitic soils, intercropping with the dosages or 7. 14 and 28 kg of seeds/ha does not affect star grass establishment. Total y ield can increase when 7 kg of seeds/ha are used. Intercropping dosages, of 14 and 28 kg/ha of sorghum seeds can give a higher total biomass productio n. However. the use of only 7 kg of sorghum seeds/ha is suggested since thi s dose has less effect on star grass establishment with good biomass yield.