Evaluation of Early Maturing Sorghum and Cowpea Varieties Intercropping for Animal Nutritive Value and in vitro Digestibility in Fedis District, Eastern Ethiopia

: The shortage of arable land and shortage of livestock feed specially quality feed resources are major constraints in East Hararghe Zone. Thus, a field study was conducted to evaluate an early maturing sorghum varieties and cowpea Lines intercropping for both food and feed production at Fedis Agricultural Research Center, eastern Ethiopia in 2018/19 cropping season. Two cowpea varieties (lines) (9333 and 9334) were intercropped with three varieties of early maturing sorghum (Teshale, Birhan and Melkam) and compared with sole cropping of all the varieties, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analyzed result showed the NDF content was significantly different (p < 0.05) among intercropped and sole sorghum the maximum NDF was recorded from sole sorghum Teshale (69.56%) and the minimum sorghum Birhan + cowpea (9333) (57.75%) and the Intercropping sorghum improved the CP of sorghum stover mean from sole (5.31%) to intercropped (6.03%). the. Cropping systems and cowpea lines were significantly affected (p < 0.05) the content of CP and NDF. The maximum CP obtained from cowpea (9334) + sorghum Teshale 29.19%), and the minimum CP obtained from sole cowpea (9333) (24.38%). Generally, the results of this study showed that intercropping of sorghum-cowpea were increased nutritional quality of cowpea and sorghum stover. Based on the results of this study, it concluded that intercropping sorghum with forage cowpea; preferably sorghum Melkam + cowpea (9333) to be appropriate to increase quality of sorghum stover in the study area.


Introduction
Ethiopian has a large livestock population and diverse agro-ecological zones suitable for livestock production and for growing diverse types of food and fodder crops. However, livestock production has mostly been subsistenceoriented and characterized by very low reproductive and production performance; those were due to primarily shortages of quality and quantity of animal feed [12]. The constraint of livestock feed due to land degradation, land shortage and poor soil fertility [18] and as the result of a rapidly increasing human population pressure, cropping is expanding and grazing areas are shrinking [1].
Intercropping is a system that has long been practiced by smallholder farmers in various tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide Brooker et al. [4] and Intercropping is a potentially beneficial system to mitigate risks associated with crop failure [11]. Cereal-legume intercrops have greater nutrient use efficiency because legume has the ability to fix atmospheric N and make available to the cereal crop Musa et al. [15] and hence improve animal nutritional quality of the component crops.
Cowpea is among the most widely used legumes in the tropical world. It can be incorporated into cereal cropping Animal Nutritive Value and in vitro Digestibility in Fedis District, Eastern Ethiopia system to address soil fertility decline and cereals to the provision of better legume/stover to cereal [5]. Compatible companion crops in intercropping systems under limited external inputs could provide a potential productivity and profitability Yildirim and Guyenc [22], and a potential systems to reduce shortage of animal feeds, particularly in areas where cropland is in scarce.
The main objective of the study was to evaluate nutritional quality and in vitro dry matter digestibility of sorghum Stover and cowpea herbage for animal feed in intercropping and sole cropping systems

Description of the Study Area
The study was conducted at Boko on station of Fedis Agricultural Research Center under rain fed condition. The station is found in eastern parts of Ethiopia, which is 550 km to the East of Addis Ababa and 24 km southeast of Harari city. The Fedis District is situated at an altitude of 1050 to 2118 m above sea level [6]. The amount of rainfall varies between 650 and 750 mm, while the average temperature of the District ranges between 25 and 30°C [23].
Source of the map: Ethio-GIS shape file, 2016

Description of the Experimental Materials
Two-cowpea Lines (9334 and 9333) were used with three varieties of early maturing sorghum (Teshale, Birhan and Melkam) and all the materials were obtained from Fedis Agricultural Research Center. The experimental materials were selected on the basis of their current and potential importance and mainly on their productivity and heights of the plants.

Treatments and Experimental Design
Cowpea and sorghum under sole and intercropping systems were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in a plot area of (3×3) m 2 , 1m between plot and 1.5m between block. Sorghum was planted at a spacing of 75 cm between rows x 20 cm between plants for sole and intercropping. Cowpea in intercropping was planted after twenty days of sorghum planting. Cowpea was planted in central rows of sorghum, which was 37.5 cm far away from sorghum row under intercropping and between sole rows of cowpea. In other words, intercropped cowpea was planted at a spacing of 75cm between rows. Sorghum-Cowpea intercropping were planted 1:1 (one row of cowpea with one row sorghum) row arrangement and seed proportion for intercropping 100:100 sorghum + cowpea respectively. The sole and intercropping cowpea planted in 37.5 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants.

Experimental Procedure and Field Management
Land preparation was done at the middle of April with a tractor, harrowed and leveled before planting. The seed rate of 12 kg ha -1 for sole and intercropping sorghum respectively was planted at row spacing of 75 cm through drip sowing with 5cm deeps when the soil has enough moisture for seed germination. After twenty days, cowpea varieties were planted with the seed rate of 30 kg ha -1 sole and intercropping, respectively. Application of NPS (19% N, 38% P 2 O 5 and 7% S) and Urea (46% N) at 100 kg ha -1 rate was uniformly applied the time of sorghum planting while urea at the rate of 100 kg ha -1 was uniformly applied after plants emerged 2-3 leaves. Before urea applied, thinning done to reduce the population of sorghum to normal plant population and weeds were cleared.

Data Collection and Measurement
Chemical and quality parameters of Cowpea-sorghum Intercropping: five randomly sample plants were taken at 50% flowering stage for both crops to determine dry biomass yield. The dry biomass weight of the sample taken after partial sun-dried of 150 g to and then the samples were ovendried at 65°C for 72 hours to determine dry matter yield. The samples were analyzed for Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), fiber and Ash at Holetta nutritional laboratory.
Crude protein (CP): nitrogen concentration of sorghum/cowpea was determined by grinding the plant material, its digestion and distillation by micro-Kjeldahl method [3]. The crude protein content was determined as a product of N x 6.25 [9].
Fiber: Alternative procedure for fiber which had been developed by Van Soest method (detergent Method) used to determine insoluble cell wall matrix Van Soest [21] such as; Neutral detergent fiber (NDF): which was the residue after extraction with boiling neutral solutions of sodium lauryl sulfate and ethylene-diamine tetra acetic acid, consists mainly of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose Acid detergent fiber (ADF): it was the residue after refluxing with 0.5 M sulphuric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and represents the crude lignin and cellulose fractions of plant material Acid detergent lignin (ADL): it was determination involves the preparation of acid detergent fiber as the preparatory step. The ADF was treated with 72 percent sulphuric acid, which dissolves cellulose. Ashing the residue determines crude lignin Ash: it was determined by igniting the dried sample in a muffle furnace at 500°C overnight and Cool in a desiccator and take weigh.
In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD): it was a laboratory test used as a plant quality index for animal feed by animal nutritionists [19]. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was analyzed at Holetta Agricultural Research Center. The two-stage Rumen liquor was collected from two ruminally fistulated steer and transported to the laboratory using thermos flask that has been pre-warmed to 39°C. Rumen liquor was taken in the morning before animals were offered a feed. A duplicate sample (0.5 g each) was incubated with 30 ml of rumen liquor in 100 ml test tube in a water bath at 39°C for a period of 48 hours for microbial digestion followed by another 48 hours for enzyme digestion with acid pepsin solution. Drying of samples residues was done at 105°C for 24 hours. IVDMD was calculated [10].
The sample was then ashed to estimate In vitro OM digestibility as: OM in the feed-(OM in residue -blank) x 100 OM in the feed Where OM = DM-Ash (measured after incineration of feed or residue).

Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis Software to perform ANOVA (SAS 9.1) in a randomized complete block design. Means of all treatments were calculated and the difference was tested for significance using the least significant difference (LSD) test at p < 0.05 [7].

Sorghum Stover Chemical Composition and in Vitro Organic Matter Digestibility
There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) among the chemical composition content (Ash and NDF). However, none significant of DM, CP and ADF) of sorghum stover due to the effect of cropping systems (under sole and intercropped sorghum-cowpea) and varieties of sorghum showed in (Table 2).
The dry matter content was not significantly different (P > 0.05) in the Stover obtained from the intercropping as well as sole sorghum varieties. However, in all treatments, the result of DM% that obtained higher than 92%, and average dry matter content was 93.04%. This result was indicated that high dry matter obtained when compared with 2012 feed composition table of sorghum Stover of (87%) DM and also most "dry" feeds, such as grains and hays, often have a DM content of around 85% to 92%. "Wet" feeds, such as silage and wet distiller's grains, typically have a DM content of 25 to 35 percent. Ash in (Table 2) showed that the ash of sorghum Stover was significantly different (p < 0.05) under sole and intercropping of sorghum/cowpea and sorghum varieties. The maximum Ash recorded by sole sorghum of Melkam [(T10, (13.02%) and followed by sole Teshale and sole Birhan (T9, 11.66% and T11 11.23%)] respectively. The minimum obtained from intercropped sorghum Stover of Teshale (T4, 9.88%), (T1, 10.02%). Intercropping reduced the Ash content of the Stover of sorghum. This was due to the additive effect of cowpea intercropping on total forage quality. The result of this finding is in conformity with the finding of Usman [20] noted that which lablab intercropping increased the DM but decreased the ash content. The crude protein content was not significantly different (P > 0.05) in the stover obtained from the different treatments of sorghum varieties and intercropping. However, it showed in ( Table 2) that numerically different among cropping systems and sorghum varieties. The maximum CP recorded by cowpea (9333) + sorghum Birhan (T5), cowpea (9334) + sorghum Birhan (T2) and sole sorghum Birhan T11); (6.81%, 6.68% and 6.26%) was followed by cowpea (9333) + sorghum Melkam (T6), cowpea (9334) + sorghum Melkam (T3) and sole sorghum Melkam (T10) (5.96%, 5.86% and 5.11%) respectively.
The minimum CP obtained from sorghum Stover of sole sorghum Teshale [(T9, (4.57%). In general CP that obtained from tested sorghum stover were classified under poor quality animal feeds according to General Forage Quality Standards for Livestock Diets classification, > 19% prime (the best quality feeds), QS (1) 17-19%, QS (2) 14-16%, QS (3) 11-14%, QS (4) 8-10% and QS (5) < 8% of CP indicated that the lowest quality. This indicates that when sorghum intercropping with forage cowpea; it numerically improves the quality of sorghum Stover mean under intercropped (6.03%) CP than sole sorghum stover (5.31%). This result agreed with the finding of Mergia [13], the CP content of maize under sown with forage legumes was the higher ranging from 7.2 to 7.3%, while the CP content of Stover from pure stands was the lowest 6.9% or 69 g/kg/DM. Also, this result similar range with Sergio and Shelby (2016) Oregon State University stated that most forage has a range of 4% to 24% CP on a DM basis.
The fiber fractions; [acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL)]; the NDF content was significantly different (p < 0.05) in the stover obtained from the intercropping and sole sorghum. The maximum NDF was recorded from sole sorghum Teshale (T9) whereas the minimum NDF of sorghum stover was obtained of sorghum Birhan + cowpea (9333). This may be due to free asses nutrients and solar radiation among the crops. The average NDF of sorghum stover; Birhan (59.16%) classified under QS (3), Melkam stover (64.66) under QS (4) and Teshale Stover (65.56) category under QS (5) or lower (poor) quality animal feeds. The ADF% of sorghum stover not affected by sorghum-cowpea intercropping and varieties of sorghum. Even if neutral detergent fiber represents the total fiber component of the feedstuff and value consists of all the cell wall contents plus the acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents ADF and ADL was not statistically affected. Also it includes cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, but unlike ADF, it has no bearing on quality and digestibility. The ADF of sorghum stover of [(Birhan (37.54%) better than Melkam (40.35%) and Melkam (40.35) better than Teshale (41.86) averagely]. However, sorghum varieties was not affected sorghum stover and under different category based on "General Forage Quality Standards for Livestock Diets" i.e. prime < 40% (the best quality feeds), QS (1) 40-46%, QS (2) 47-53%, QS (3) 54-60%, QS (4) 61-65% and QS (5) > 65% of NDF indicated that the lowest quality. Based on this description the result that obtained from varieties were low; because cereals are higher in lignin content than legumes, grass-legumes was decreased the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and improve the crude protein content, which is important for production of quality forage. Thus lined with Iqbal et al. [8] sorghum sown 15 days after Soybean in 2-2 row ratio intercropping decrease the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and improve the crude protein content Table 2. Chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of sorghum Stover grown in sole and under sorghum/cowpea intercropping system. In vitro organic matter digestibility of sorghum Stover: IOMD sorghum Stover was no a significant difference (p > 0.05) among sorghum varieties and cropping systems. However, numerically both cropping systems and sorghum varieties were affected sorghum Stover of IVOMD. The highest IVOMD were recorded of T6 53.4% under intercropping of cowpea (9333) + sorghum melkam. The lowest IVOMD of sorghum Stover were recorded under sole cropping of sorghum of Teshale (T9) and Melkam (T10) (47.61% and 49.48%) respectively. This different was might be mainly due to the stage of maturity of sorghum, because as indicated intercropping was significantly increased days to maturity and reduced ADF among thus sorghum varieties. This was agreed the finding of Njoka et al. [16] intercropping the grass with lablab there is an increase in crude protein and decrease in ADF and ADL, which increases the IVDMD of the Napier grass. Also this result was higher than the result that reported by Mekuanint and Girma [14] on the cereal straw and major feed resource in Bale Zone; In vitro DM digestibility aftermath and wheat straw was 40.36 and 41.92% in Gasera district and 40.78 and 42.22% in Ginnir district, respectively

Forage Cowpea Chemical Composition and in Vitro Organic Matter Digestibility
There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) of the chemical composition content CP and NDF among cropping systems and cowpea lines. The maximum CP obtained from cowpea (9334) intercropped with sorghum Teshale (T1) and sorghum Melkam (T3) 29.19% and 28.06% of dry matter basis; whereas the minimum CP obtained from under sole cowpea (9333) (T8, 24.38%) and cowpea (9334) (T7, 25.19%). This might be due cowpea not further exposed to solar radiation and sorghum hiding cowpea form sun shine and winds then decrease the stage of maturity and shattering of the leaves; increased CP. The maximum NDF obtained from sole cowpea (9333).
The minimum was obtained from T1; cowpea (9334) + sorghum Teshale. So intercropping of cowpea-sorghum increased the quality of forage cowpea by increased CP and decreasing fiber content as fiber is considered to be an antinutritional factor. This due to intercropping protected the shattering of leaves of cowpea and protein accumulation high in leaves than in steams.
Thus result lined with Ahmad et al. [2] sorghum-cowpea and sorghum-sesbania produced better results in terms of green forage yield and quality. However, sorghum-cowpea intercropping and varieties of cowpea were not affected among chemical composition like; DM, ash, ADF and IVOMD of cowpea. In (Table 3) the result indicated that the mean was numerically different among cowpea (9334) (90.85%) and cowpea (9333) (91.73%). In general of forage cowpea in both under sole cowpea and intercropping of cowpea-sorghum of CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and IVOMD (25.89%, 44.6%, 24.43%, 2.92% and 61.09%) respectively. Thus result indicated that tested cowpea lines were categories under prime quality > 19% CP, 1 0 quality NDF 40-46%, prime quality ADF < 31% and 2 0 quality IVOMD 58-61% respectively according to "General Forage Quality Standards for Livestock Diets" so the result indicated that forage cowpea was highest quality forage. This result disagreed with the result that reported by Solomon and Kibrom, [17] Humera, Ethiopia Ash content of cowpea lines a mean of 14.2%, Crude protein a mean of 18.1%. In vitro dry matter digestibility 57.3%. This result average ADF content was 53% with the average NDF content was 58.1% among lines. ADL mean of 13.1%. This variation might be due to seasonal variation, soil types, and the difference between main crops and stages of the plants during the sample taken.

Conclusions
The study was conducted with the objective to evaluate chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of early maturing sorghum and cowpea varieties when intercropped. The field implemented with two cowpea varieties intercropping with three varieties sorghum and compared with sole cropping by randomized complete block