Effects of Chemical and Biological Fertilizers on Some Morpho-Physiological Traits of Purslane (<i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L.) and Dragon’s Head (<i>Lallemantia iberica</i> Fisch. & C.A. Mey) Cultivated under Intercropping System

Abstract

Declining land productivity associated with decreasing soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) are significant issues in monoculture crop production. In addition, continuous use of inorganic fertilizer often leads to unsustainability in crop production and creating environmental pollution. Considering the importance of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fisch. & C.A. Mey) in human nutrition, a field study was carried out to assess the effects of chemical and biological fertilizers on purslane-dragon’s head intercropping. The factorial experiment was set on the basis of randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was an additive intercropping system including monocropping of purslane (P), monocropping of dragon’s head (D), intercropping of 100% purslane + 25% dragon’s head (PD25), intercropping of 100% purslane + 50% dragon’s head (PD50), intercropping of 100% purslane + 75% dragon’s head (PD75); the second factor was nutrient treatments including application of 50% inorganic N fertilizer (urea) + nitroxin (F1), inorganic N fertilizer (urea) (F2), nitroxin (F3) and no fertilizer (F4). For purslane crop, the highest amount of relative chlorophyll (SPAD) belonged to PD75 + F1 treatment. Intercropping increased stem height of both crop plants. The data obtained hereby clearly showed that the total yield of the purslane-dragon’s head intercropping treatments was higher than any of the monocropping treatments. PD50 + F1 had the highest amount of land equivalent ratio (LER). Therefore, intercropping of 100% purslane + 50% dragon’s head and application of 50% urea + nitroxin might be recommended for higher yield and economic return.