Introduction: Intercropping, growing two or more crop types or cultivars on one field, is considered as one of the most important agricultural opeRATIOns that can improve the utilization of environmental resources through increased plant growth and yield. Diversity and stability of fields, reduction in chemical fertilizers application and nutrient availability such as biological nitrogen fixation, are considered as some of the benefits of intercropping. Hence, selection of legume cultivars in intercrops is important and should be taken into account. Also different intercropping patterns can improve biodiversity at species level (Monti et al., 2016). Maize is a crop that can be included in intercropping systems with various plants due to its high adaptability (Nassiri Mahallati et al., 2010)...

Introduction: Intercropping is an old and widespread practice used in low input cropping systems in many areas of the world. In fact, intercropping is claimed to be one of the most significant cropping techniques in sustainable agriculture, and many researches and reviews attribute its utilization to the number of environmental benefits from promoting LAND biodiversity to diversifying agricultural outcome. Furthermore, it is thought to be a useful mean for minimizing the risks of agricultural production in many environments, including those typical of underdeveloped or marginal areas. Intercropping systems, especially those employing non legumes with legumes, have several major advantages such as higher total yield and better LAND use efficiency (Dhima et al., 2007), yield stability of the cropping system (Lithourgidis et al., 2007), better utilization of light, water, and nutrients (Javanmard et al., 2009), improved soil conservation and better control of pests and weeds. Intercrops including of legume are common in agriculture ecosystems, but now are rarely used in developed countries, except for certain intercropping systems used for animal feed. Intercrops can use the available environmental resources more efficiently and thus result in higher yields than mono crops. The reasons for the higher yield in such systems is that the intercropped species do not compete for exactly the same growth resource niche and thereby tend to use the available resources in a complementary way. In particular, non legumes seem to be more competitive for soil inorganic nitrogen (N) than legumes due to faster and deeper root growth and higher demand in N. Consequently, the legumes usually increase their reliance on symbiotic N2 fixation. In the present study, it was aimed to assess the production of biomass, yield, grain quality and LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (LER) in plant society of sunflower/bean.Materials and methods This experiment was carried out with aim of evaluation of the yield, seed quality and LER in sunflower and bean intercropping based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and nine treatments at Bu-Ali Sina University during growing season 2010-2011. Additive intercropping of 25, 50, 75 and 100% bean with sunflower, replacement intercropping of 25: 75, 50: 50 and 75: 25 (bean: sunflower) and monoculture of sunflower and bean were the experimental treatments. SAS procedures and programs were used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations. The significance of the treatment impact was determined using F-test by measuring significant differences between the means of the treatments, and least significant differences (LSD) were estimated at the probability level of 5%.Results and discussion Results indicated that with shifting from sole cropping toward intercropping, seed weight, kernel weight, kernel to seed RATIO, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index (HI), oil percentage and yield and protein yield decreased significantly, but protein percentage and SPAD reading increased. The highest sunflower seed yield (353 g.m-2) without significant difference with additive intercropping of 50% bean with sunflower observed at sole cropping of sunflower. Except seed number per pod and protein percentage, the effect of treatments was significant on pod number per plant, 100- seeds weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, yield of protein and SPAD reading of bean. Maximum yield of bean recorded in bean sole cropping treatment. In all intercropping treatments, the value of LER was more than one and the value of competition index (CI) was lessthan one. Treatment of additive intercropping of 50% bean with sunflower had the lowest CI (0.03) and the highest LER (1.66).Conclusion Therefore, it seems that additive intercropping of 50% bean with sunflower treatment is suitable treatment for maximum production in society of sunflower and bean.

Introduction: Intercropping is one of the components of sustainable agriculture and as part of crop rotation in the design of sustainable system. One of the benefits of intercropping is greater use of available resources. The aims of this study were to evaluate different tillage systems and cropping patterns of Roselle and Green Gram on some soil nutrients and the use efficiency of environmental resources. Usually, intercropping used at Low fertility soil with low input conditions in the tropics region. Bahraniet al. (2007) reported that no tillage systems compared with conventional tillage with crop residue, were increased soil organic carbon content in maize production. Ramroudiet al. (2011) expressed conventional tillage reduced amount of nitrogen compared to no tillage system.Material and Methods: The research was conducted at Zabol city. Split plot experiment performed based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plot was three levels of tillage system (zero (without plowing), reduced (disk) and conventional tillage (disc plow)) and sub plot was planting RATIO with five levels (pure culture of Roselle, pure culture of Green gram, 50% roselle+50% green gram, 25% roselle+75% green gram, 75% roselle+25% green gram) were considered. Preparing the ground in mid-June 2012, according to the type of plowing was performed. For comparison of means were used by Duncan's test at 5% probability.Results and Discussion: The effects of tillage systems, planting RATIOs and interaction of tillage systems × planting RATIO on soil organic carbon and nitrogen were very significant. The highest and lowest levels of organic carbon were obtained in zero tillage (1.14%) and conventional tillage systems (0.63 %), respectively. The highest and lowest nitrogen of soil after harvest, of pure culture of Green gram (0.11 %) and 75 % of Roselle+ 25% Green gram intercropping (0.06 %) were obtained respectively, Tillage system could not affected the amount of magnesium of soil after harvest. The comparison of means showed that the highest and the lowest magnesium content were observed in conventional tillage (17.9 ppm) and zero tillage (16.7 ppm) respectively, (Table 2). The calcium amount in a pure culture of green gram (17.9 ppm) was higher than the net cultivation of Roselle (15.5 ppm). The Most of potassium soil of intercropping 25 % Roselle+75% green gram (480.1 ppm) and the lowest amount of pure cultures of Roselle (401.8 ppm), were obtained (Table 2). Bohraniet al., (2) were reported that no tillage systems compared with conventional tillage with crop residue have increases soil organic carbon content. With the increase of Roselle in intercropping reduced soil potassium and with increase the proportion of green gram in intercropping, potassium was increased. Tillage systems, planting RATIO and interactions (tillage system´planting RATIO) had a significant effect on soil water content and soil temperature.Comparison of means showed that maximum and minimum soil water content of the soil related to the zero tillage (18.6 %) and conventional tillage (12.6 %). soil water content pure culture of green gram was the greater than intercropping and pure culture of Roselle. Soil temperature in pure culture of Roselle was greater than of pure culture of green gram. Effect of planting RATIO was significant on LER in 1% probability level. The highest and lowest of LER was obtained in 75 %green gram+25% (1.36) and 25 % green gram+75 % Roselle (1.15).Beheshti and Soltaniyan (2012) reported that LER in various combinations of sorghum and beans intercropping was higher than of unit.Conclusions: Investigation showed that the zero tillage treatments and intercropping increased the efficiency of environmental resources and improved the soil nutrient, significantly. The highest LER was achieved 75% green gram+25% Roselle, which is indicative of the excellence of intercropping compared to monoculture. The amount of organic carbon has shown an increase in soil fertility using zero tillage and increase percent of green gram in intercropping. The results showed that zero tillage systems, monoculture green gram and intercropping had soil water content more than conventional tillage systems and monoculture Roselle.

Effect of different planting RATIOs of oat (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) was assessed on quality and quantity of forage and silage in an intercropping system as completely randomized block design (RCBD) with four replications. The treatments were different planting RATIOs of oat and vetch including 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 80:20 and 100:0 (Oat-Vetch) formed as replacement series. The results indicated that the highest quantitative yield obtained from 40 percent: vetch + 60 percent oat where their fresh and dry matters were 62.88 and 15.72 ton/ha, respectively. The results obtained from analysis of variance showed, all the parameters including crude protein, butyric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, Natural Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), propionic acid were significantly different with differing planting compositions except ethanol and ammoniac nitrogen. Monoculture of vetch (0-100) produced the highest level of crude protein, butyric acid and lactic acid whereas maximum acetic acid was obtained from 20 percent vetch + 80 percent oat. Maximum NDF and ADF observed from 40 percent vetch + 60 percent oat and the highest level of propionic acid were related to oat monoculture. Generally the RATIO of 40 percent vetch + 60 percent oat with maximum of quality and quantity of yield was superior to others and it was acceptable as qualitative characteristics.

The effects of density and intercropping of safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) and rocket sativa (Eruca sativa L.) were evaluated on yield and LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO. The experiment was conducted as spilt plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications for one year (2010-11) in the experimental field of Share-Rey University. Main plots included three density levels (40, 20 and 16 plant\m2) and subplots included six intercropping arrangement system. CCCCCCCC (pure culture of Carthamus tinctorious L.) EEEEEEEE (Pure culture of Eruca sativaL.) and CCCCEEEE, ECCCEEEC, CCEECCEECC, CECECECE (Mix culture). The studied characteristics included yield, yield components and LER. According to the results, the highest dry matter yield (1035 and 1050 gr) and seed yield (246 and 268 gr) were obtained from a density of 40 and CCCCEEEE arrangement forEruca sativa and Carthamus tinctorious, respectively. In addition, the highest LER of dry matter yield (1.41) and seed yield (1.48) were obtained from high density and CCCCEEEE arrangement, indicating the benefits of intercropping as compared to the pure culture of each studied species.

Introduction: Intercropping is considered to be important for a lot of reasons like optimizing water and soil resource uses, increasing water use efficiency, increasing pest, diseases and weed control efficiency, decrease pesticide application, increasing total production and LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO and sustainability in agroecosystems. Production of medicinal plants requires sustainable and healthy methods like intercropping for increasing quantity and quality of medicinal plants and intercropping is one of the methods has special attention for this approach. Intercropping would be more successful when one of the intercropping components is legume, because of their nitrogen fixation ability and compatability to different planting patterns in mixcropping systems. Chickpea and balangu planting date is close together, with these abilities of legumes and planting dates it seems that their intercropping is an ideal purpose for medicinal production. It is possible that chickpea nitrogen fixation is useful for balangu growth and allelopathic effects of balangu with planting patterns with increasing canopy covering on the ground and shading on weed seedling would be helpful to improve quality and quantity in this intercropping. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chickpea and balangu intercropping possibility, LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO and effect of weed control in this intercropping pattern. Matherials & Methods The experiment was arranged as a factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications and performed at research farm of faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2015-16 growing season. Treatments considered six planting (Chickpea/Balangu) RATIO: (100/0, 100/25, 100/50, 100/75, 100/100, 0/100) and two weeding time (50 and 70 days after planting). Chickpea and balangu were planted at the same time (March 11th) in the way that Balangu is planted on the top of the rows with high density and chickpea is planted on the sideways of rows in recommended density (40 plant/m-2). When Balangu is emerged, they were thinned to its recommended density (40 plantm-2). Because of good precipitation during the growing season, one time irrigation was applied at the beginning of chickpea poding and balangu seed ripening. To determine the effect of treatments, chickpea and balangu biomass and seed yield were determined at the end of the season. To compare the performance of intercropping, LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (LER) was used, according to below equation: RYa: relative intercropped yield out of monocropped plant a yield Ryb: relative intercropped yield out of monocropped plant b. Yab: yield of plant a intercropped with plant b, Yba: yield of plant b intercropped with plant a, Yaa: yield of plant a monocropped, Ybb: yield of plant b monocropped. The data statistical analysis and draw the figures were performed by Mini Tab Ver 17 and Excel 2013. Means were also compared by Fisher test at 5% probability level. Results & Discussion Results indicated that chickpea biomass and seed yield decreased as 24 and 55 percent respectively in 70 days after planting weeding time. However, biomass and seed yield were increased 5. 7 and 20. 4 percent respectively in balangu. By increasing balangu density, balangu seed yield increased but chickpea seed yield decreased significantly. The highest seed yield and biomass in both crops is observed in their monocropping and 50 days after planting weeding time. When weeds were left longer (70 days after planting) to compete with the crops, yield was decreased. Results showed that LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (LER) in 100/25 (chickpea/ balangu) plant RATIO were the highest (1. 52) and is useful and economic in chickpea and balangu intercropping. Conclusion Based on the results, by increasing the balangu density, biomass and seed yield of chickpea was significantly decreased even at the lowest balangu density. However increasing balangu density, increased balangu yield. It seems balangu is competing with chickpea strongly. However balangu planting at 10, 20 and 30 plant m-2 density with 40 plant m-2 chickpea increased LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO by more than 1, especially in the lowest balangu density (10 plant m-2) when weeding were did at the 70 days after planting. Generally intercropping of balangu and chickpea in Mashhad and the same climate condition recommended in 100/25 (chickpea/ balangu) plant RATIO (40 chickpea plant m-2 + 10 balangu plant m-2) and it would be useful and economic.

In order to study the intercropping effects of maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and evaluating effect of intercropping on weed biomass, a field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Payamenoor University of Nagadeh, West-Azarbayjan, Iran during growing season of 2009-2010. The experiment was laid out as randomized complete block design with three replications and 15 treatments. Treatments were including mono-cropping of maize densities (5, 7 and 9 plant.m-2) and bean densities (45, 55 and 65 plant.m-2) and nine treatments of intercropping included combination of densities. Two plant species intercropped as additive series. Results showed that the biological and grain yield of maize and bean were significantly affected by maize and bean densities. The effect of cropping system on weed biomass was significant. The lowest weed biomass was obtained in intercropping and the highest in sole crop.Maximum LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (1.41) and standard LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (1.41) were obtained by five maize plants. m-2 with 55 plants. m-2 of bean intercropping combinations. Maximum relative total value (1.31) was obtained in maize and bean intercropping with 7 plants maize and 55 plants bean plant.m-2 showed the highest profitability. Intercropping monetary advantage in comparison with mono cropping was 58 percent.

Introduction Medicinal and aromatic plants are looked upon not only as a source of affordable health care products but also as a source of income. Several studies emphasized the need for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in agricultural systems based on low input management. One of such causes is production of medicinal plants with oil seed with unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic acid. Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. ) is an important oil seed plant belongs to family Cucurbitaceae with a prostrate stem. This seeds is used in food industry, cosmetics and health items. Active ingredients of seed are fatty acids, Vitamin E and ß-phytosterols. The major components of pumpkin oil are linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. Seeds of pumpkin species contain 39. 5-56. 5% oil and 21-67. 4% linoleic acid (Aroiee & Omidbaigi, 2004; Siami et al., 2003). Because of its ability to tolerate shade and to cover ground rapidly with its creeping growth habit (Aroiee & Omidbaigi, 2004), is often intercropped with other plants. This intercropping system could be effective in suppressing weed growth and increasing crop yields. Intercropping is defined as the intensification and diversification of agricultural system in time and space dimensions. Increased food production by intercropping with more variety can to be effective in improving yield and ecosystem services and functions. The purposes of the experiment were evaluating the yield and yield components of pumpkin in row intercropping treatments with some field crops and medicinal plants Materials and Methods This experiment was done based on a randomized complete block design with four replications and 11 treatments at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during growing season 2014-2015. Row intercropping of pumpkin with corn (Zea mays L. ), sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ), sesame (Sesamum indicum L. ), castor been (Ricinus communis L. ) and their monoculture were considered as treatments. Studied traits were yield components of pumpkin (such as number of fruit, fruit weight, fruit yield, number of seeds per fruit, weight of seeds per fruit and 1000-seed weight), biological and seed yield of pumpkin, corn, sweet corn, sunflower, sesame and caster been and LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO (LER). Results and Discussion The results showed that the effect of rows intercropping with some field crops and medicinal plants was significant on fruit number, fruit weight, fruit yield per ha, seed number per fruit, seed weight per fruit, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and biological yield of pumpkin. The highest fruit number of pumpkin was observed in monoculture with 31650 fruits. ha-1 and the lowest was intercropping with sunflower with 14386 fruit. ha-1. The maximum seed number was related to intercropping with sunflower with 333. 75 seeds. fruit-1. The highest seed yield of corn, sweet corn, sunflower, sesame and castor bean was obtained in their monoculture with 772. 17, 437. 59, 563. 69, 177. 75 and 177 g. m-2, respectively. The maximum LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO was calculated for intercropping of pumpkin+ sweet corn with 1. 57. Conclusion The results highlight the importance of intercropping medicinal plants and crops for improving the yield and yield components of pumpkin. The yield advantage of intercropping system occur when the component plants are in complementarily with each other, resulting in more effective use of environmental resources such as nutrients, radiation and water and yield compared with when produce as monoculture. The highest LER was computed for intercropped pumpkin with sweet corn. It seems that sweet corn had lowest competitive effects on pumpkin. On the other hand, weakness of pumpkin competitive ability in comparison with castor bean possible was due to morphology and its growth form (prostrate form). Of course it is always necessary to determine the types of interactions in intercrops in order to find out and select the best plant in intercropping with pumpkins in which the competition is the lowest, while yield components are the highest.