Optimal plant spacing of Lallemantia iberica under rainfed and supplementary irrigation

Abstract

To evaluate the optimal sowing distances in rainfed and supplementary irrigation conditions for the yield and yield components of Dragon's head (<em>Lallemantia iberica</em> L.), a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Urmia University in 2014. Treatments were sowing distances (15 and 30 cm inter-row and 1 and 2 cm intra-row) and irrigation (rainfed and supplementary irrigation). The highest number of leaves (105 Nplant^-1) and the highest Leaf (1961 mg plant^-1) and flower (242 mg plant^-1) weight were obtained from wide inter (30 cm) and intra (2 cm) rows with supplementary irrigation. Supplementary irrigation resulted in the maximum plant height (43.7 cm) and 1000-Seed weight (4.96 g). Means comparison showed that the highest values of seed yield (2730 kg ha^-1) were obtained in supplementary irrigation with narrow inter (15 cm) and wide intra (2 cm) row distances. The maximum biological yield (4935 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (52%) were found in 15 cm inter-row spacing treatment with supplementary irrigation. Compared to rainfed condition, It was concluded that one supplementary irrigation of Dragon's head led to 130% and 99% increase in seed and biological yield, respectively.