Evaluating the benefit of Ajowan and Fenugreek intercropping in different levels of manure and planting pattern

Document Type : Research Article

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of animal manure on Ajowan (Carum copticum) and Fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum) different intercropping, an experiment was conducted as split plot on the basis of complete randomized block with three replications in 2005. For this reason four levels of animal manure (15,20,25,30 tons/ha) was allocated to the main plots and different intercropping of Ajowan and Fenugreek at 5 levels in subplots (A: pure stand of Ajowan, B: pure stand of Fenugreek, C: single-row intercropping of Ajowan and Fenugreek, D: double-row intercropping of Ajowan and Fenugreek, E: triple-row intercropping of Ajowan and Fenugreek). Results showed that Different intercropping systems had no effect on plant height, primary branches, number of pods per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of umbellets per umbel, number of seeds per umbellet and 1000- seed weight, but secondry branches, seed yield and biological yield of organs in Ajowan and Fenugreek and also dry weight per plant and harvest index in Ajowan were affected by intercropping systems. At between intercropping treatments, Seed yield and biological yield in single-row intercropping compared with double and triple row intercropping was suitable. The highest number of secondry branches in Ajowan and Fenugreek was obtained in single-row intercropping and pure stand, respectively. Harvest index and dry weight per plant in Ajowan was highest in intercropping compared with pure culture. Effect of animal manure was only significant in number of seeds per pod in
Fenugreek and number of umbellates per umbel and percentage and yield of essential oil in Ajowan. The highest number of seeds per pod and number of umbellates per umbel were observed with 30 and 15 ton/ha manure, respectively. Percentage and yield of essential oil at high level of manure (25 and 30 ton/ha) were higher in intercrop compared with pure stand. The highest Land Equivalent Ratio (1.47) was obtained in singel-row intercropping and the lowest (1.28) in double-row intercropping.

20.1001.1.20081472.1388.7.1.26.4

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