Effect of Bio- and Chemical Fertilizers on Grain and Essential Oil Yield of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) in Intercropping with Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Abstract

The effect of bio-fertilizers and intercropping with faba bean (Vicia faba L.) on grain and essential oil yield of cumin(Cuminum cyminum L.)evaluated by field experiment as factorial based on randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and three replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2014. The first factor was four levels of cropping systems including, monoculture of cumin; three replacement intercropping patterns including row intercropping of faba bean with cumin (1 row faba bean-1 row cumin); strip intercropping as 2 rows faba bean-2 row cumin and 4 rows faba bean - 4 rows cumin. The second factor was three levels of fertilizers including 100% chemical fertilizer, 50% chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (Azotobarvar + Barvar 2) and vermicompost (10 ton.ha-1).Results showed that the highest leaf number per plant of cumin was observed in 1:1 intercropping. The yield components of cumin in row intercropping pattern were higher than them in other intercropping patterns. The row intercropping +100% chemical fertilizer, had the highest cumin essential oil yield (4.8 kg.ha-1). Evaluating the intercropping indices showed that 1:1 intercropping had the highest relative value total (1/9) and standard land equivalent ratio (1/3-1/4) at all fertilizer levels.

Keywords

• Bio-Fertilizer
• Cumin
• Intercropping
• Land Equivalent Ratio
• Vermicompost