Improvement of Forage Productivity by Intercropping Pakchong 1 and Napier Grass with Mungbean and Soybean in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Authors

• Paul Joshua C. Marquez, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los BañosFollow
• Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños
• Menandro M. Loresco, Dairy Training and Research Institute, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños
• Lourdes S. Edano Ma, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños
• Agapita J. Salces, Institute of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Abstract

Forage demand is rising in the Philippines, and to sustainably boost agronomic performance, the beneficial impact of intercropping was investigated. This study characterized the performance of high-yielding forages, namely Napier grass (NG) and Pakchong 1 (PK), when intercropped with soybean (SB) and mungbean (MB) under rain-fed conditions in Los Banos, Laguna. The experiment was conducted in a repeated-measures RCBD replicated 3 times with grass species and cropping system as main factors, resulting in the following treatment combinations: Sole NG, Sole PK, NGSB, NGMB, PKSB, and PKMB. Grasses were ratooned, legumes were harvested, and legume seeds were re-sown every 45 to 50 d. This was repeated 6 times after the 70 d of initial establishment. Plant height, tiller count, dry matter (DM) yield, root biomass, and competition indices were measured. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and means were compared using estimated marginal means at α = 5%. Key findings highlight that intercropping increased tiller count in Napier grass and grass yield in both species by more than 50%, but also decreased legume hay yield by more than 50%. PKMB produced the highest total grass yield amounting to 35.11 t ha⁻¹ after 6 ratoon cycles. The significant main effect of grass species indicated that Pakchong 1 was inherently taller, produced and maintained more root biomass, and marginally yielded more than Napier grass, but bore fewer tillers compared to the latter. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values showed that all intercropping treatments were advantageous over monocropping. Aggressivity and competitive ratio values indicated that the grasses dominated the legumes in intercropping. These findings provide empirical evidence that legume intercropping with mungbean and soybean improves Napier grass and Pakchong 1 agronomic performance and productivity.

Recommended Citation

Marquez, Paul Joshua C.; Ocampo, Eureka Teresa M.; Loresco, Menandro M.; Edano, Lourdes S. Ma; and Salces, Agapita J. (2026) "Improvement of Forage Productivity by Intercropping Pakchong 1 and Napier Grass with Mungbean and Soybean in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 109: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol109/iss2/3