Evaluation of Yield and Advantages of Row Intercropping of Bean (Phseolus vulgaris L.) and Moldavian Balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) at Low Input Conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

In order to evaluate the advantages of different intercropping patterns of bean (Phseolus vulgaris L.) and Moldavian Balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.), a field experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and seven treatments at the farm located in Nagadeh, Iran during the growing season of 2011-2012. Treatments included intercropping (one row of Moldavian Balm + one row of bean, two rows of moldavian balm + one row of bean, three rows of moldavian balm + one row of bean, three rows of moldavian balm + two rows of bean, four rows of moldavian balm + two rows of bean) and sole cropping of bean and Moldavian Balm. The results showed that the different intercropping patterns had significant effect on all traits. The highest and the lowest seed and biological yield of bean were achieved in sole cropping with 2933.33 and 9533 kg.ha-1 and three rows of moldavian balm + one row of bean with 1816.67 and 4933.33 kg ha-1, respectively. The maximum biological yield and essential oil yield of moldavian balm obtained under sole cropping, while the minimum biological yield and essential oil yield of moldavian balm were observed under row intercropping, respectively. The highest LER value (1.67) was obtained of four rows of moldavian balm + two rows of bean. According to the results, it seems that four rows of moldavian balm + two rows of bean is remarkably effective to increase the economic income and land use efficiency.

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