Assimilate Accumulation and Translocation of Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) in Intercropped Triticale-Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as Affected by Bio-Organic Fertilizer and Deficit Irrigation

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 7, Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 64, June 2025, Pages 303-321   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/agry.2025.90340.1217

Authors

Ida Rashidipoor¹; Vahid Barati^{* 1}; Mahdi Najafi-Ghiri²

¹Department of Agroecology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University, Iran

²Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University, Darab, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Water stress is one of the main limiting factors for global crop productivity in arid areas. A strategy to mitigate the pronounced water stress levels may entail the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), organic matter, and intercropping systems in arid regions. Among PGPRs, Pseudomonas and Azospirillum bacteria stand out for their remarkable capacity to enhance the availability of soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), respectively. Sufficient P and N uptake has been documented to improve plants' resilience to water stress through several mechanisms and, therefore, increase dry matter remobilization, grain yield in late-season severe water stress. The application of organic matter and intercropping systems emerges as alternative solutions for mitigating severe water stress levels, and consequently improving dry matter remobilization and grain yield of the intercropping members. Despite the above knowledge, there is a lack of information regarding the interaction between biological fertilizer, organic matter, and the triticale-chickpea intercropping system in mitigating the detrimental effects of water stress on triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack). Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate the impacts of PGPRs, sheep manure, and intercropped triticale with chickpea (1:1) on assimilate accumulation and translocation of triticale as two main traits for determining the triticale grain yield under the late-season deficit irrigation (water stress) in southern Iran (Fars province -Darab).
Materials and Methods
A split-factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was implemented at the research field of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab - Shiraz University in 2019-2020 growing season. Treatments were two levels of irrigation (Ir): [1- normal (IR_N): irrigation based on the plant water requirement up to the physiological maturity stage (ZGS92) and 2- deficit irrigation (water stress - WS): irrigation based on the plant water requirement up to the milking stage] as the main plots. Three fertilizer sources (F_S) [1- chemical: ( 50 kg P ha^-1 + 150 kg N ha^-1), 2- integrated: (25 Kg P ha^-1 + 75 Kg N ha^-1 + 20 tons sheep manure ha^-1 + inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azospirillum brasilense) 3- bio-organic: 40 tons sheep manure ha^-1 + inoculation with P.  fluorescens and A. brasilense] and two cropping systems (Cs) [1- monoculture of triticale, 2- intercropped triticale with chickpea (1:1)] were subjected as the sub-plots. The aboveground dry matter of the whole plant organs at the anthesis stage and the dry matter of the vegetative organs at maturity were measured, and the dry matter remobilization and its attributes were calculated as Barati and Ghadiri (2017) mentioned. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.1 software, and means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test at 5% probability level.
 Results and Discussion
The results showed that the highest amount of assimilate remobilization occurred in integrated (2271.9 kg ha^-1) and intercropped triticale (2188.4 kg ha^-1) under IR_N condition. Assimilate remobilization and assimilate remobilization efficiency decreased by deficit irrigation. However, these decrements were different in the two cropping systems. Intercropping triticale, as compared to its sole, showed a lower decrease in these traits (16.5% and 4.3%, respectively).  Furthermore, the smallest reductions in assimilate remobilization and assimilate remobilization efficiency due to deficit irrigation were observed in the bio-organic (16.0%) and integrated (2.3%) treatments, respectively. Grain yield showed a positive and linear relationship with assimilate remobilization in IR_N and WS conditions (R² = 0.65 and R² = 0.95, respectively).
 Conclusions
As a result, to enhance assimilate remobilization and subsequently increase triticale grain yield, triticale–chickpea intercropping combined with integrated fertilizer application is recommended under IRN conditions. In contrast, when deficit irrigation (water stress) is anticipated, a bio-organic fertilizer system and intercropped triticale are advisable.
 







 




 
 

Keywords

Contribution of pre-anthesis assimilate; Dry matter remobilization efficiency; Grain yield; Harvest index

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