Evaluation of integrated application of biofertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of Ajowan in strip intercropping with of Fenugreek

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 15, Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 21, September 2014, Pages 582-594   

Document Type: Scientific - Research

DOI: 10.22067/jag.v6i3.25814

Authors

Esmaeil Rezaei-Chiyaneh^{* 1}; Adel Dabbagh Mohammadi Nasab²

¹Higher Education Center of Shahid Bakeri Miandoab, Urmia University, Iran

²Department of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Biological fertilizers can be suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers to increase soil fertility and crop production in sustainable agriculture. In order to evaluation of integrated application of bio-fertilizers and chemical fertilizers on on quantitative and qualitative yield of Ajowan in strip intercropping, a field experiment was conducted in a factorial design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications at research farm of Payamenoor University of Nagadeh, Iran during growing reason of 2011-2012. The fertilizer treatments included control (no fertilizer), 100% chemical fertilizers (NPK) and biofertilizers +50% chemical fertilizers and strip intercropping patterns consist of 4 row of ajowan+ 2 row of fenugreek, 8 row of ajowan+ 4 row of fenugreek and 12 row of ajowan+ 6 row of fenugreek and sole cropping of each crop. Results showed that intercropping patterns had significant effect on all of mentioned traits except plant height of ajowan. The highest and the lowest seed yield were obtained in of 4 row of Ajowan+ 2 row of Fenugreek and 12 row of Ajowan+ 6 row of Fenugreek, respectively. The essential oil percentage of all treatments was greater than, compared with in monoculture. Also, the effect of fertilizer was significant on yield and some yield components of Ajowan. The maximum grain yield and essential oil yield of Ajowan were obtained of treatment of bio-fertilizers +50% chemical fertilizers and control, respectively. Calculation of LER revealed that the maximum LER values (1.97) were obtained of strip intercropping (4 row of ajowan+ 2 row of fenugreek) with chemical fertilizers. This means that grain yield per unit area in intercropping improved by 97%, compared with monocropping, intercropping had advantage over sole crop

Keywords

Essential oil; Land equivalent ratio; Medicinal plant; Sustainable agriculture