The effect of intercropping of replacement and additive series on yield, light use efficiency, and radiation absorption in safflower and chickpea in Ilam

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. student of agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University. Ilam, Iran.

10.34785/J020.2022.627

Abstract

In order to study the effect of intercropping (additive and replacement series) on yield and radiation use efficiency of safflower and chickpea, a field experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and nine treatments at the research farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University during the growing season in 2020. Experimental treatments were include: sole crops: safflower (S) (25 plants.m-2) and chickpea (Ch) (25 plants.m-2), intercropping of replacement series: (70% S, 30% Ch), (50% S, 50% Ch), (30% S, 70% Ch) and intercropping of additive series: (100% S+ 30% Ch), (100%S + 50% Ch), (100% Ch + 30% S) and (100% Ch + 50% S). The results showed that the highest grain yield (190 kg.ha-1) and biological yield (1070 kg.ha-1) of safflower were obtained in additive series 100% S+ 30% Ch. The highest (1.47) and the lowest (0.86) land equivalent ratio was obtained from additive series 30% S+ 100% Ch and replacement series of 30%S+ 70% Ch, respectively. The highest radiation use efficiency (RUE) of safflower and chickpea was obtained in the treatments of 100% S + 30% Ch and 50% S + 50%Ch, respectively. The highest radiation absorbed (603 MJ.m-2) was obtained in the treatments of 100% S+ 50% Ch. Intercropping patterns of chickpea and safflower improved the radiation absorption and radiation use efficiency and increased the total yield per unit area and LER.

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