Reaction of the Green Bean- Safflower Intercropping Patterns to Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels

Abstract

In order to investigate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels and intercropping ratios on yield and other morphological traits of two crops, field experiments were conducted during two years (2010-2011) in the research field of the school of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. The study was carried out in a factorial experiment laid out based on a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications where the factors were intercropping in seven different ratios of green bean (B) and safflower (S) (including green bean sole cropping, safflower sole cropping, intercropping of green bean/safflower with 1/1, 1/3, 2/3, 3/1 and 3/2 proportions) and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 75 and 150 kg per ha). Overall results indicated that different intercropping systems and N-fertilizer levels significantly affected the yield and other traits measured in both green bean and safflower. Optimal treatments in terms of economic importance for the farmers were intercropping B2S3 or B3S2 with 75 kg N/ha for safflower and B2S3 or B3S1 intercropping ratios under any or 75 kg N per ha for green bean (17.82g/plant) and the highest total LER (3.1). In order to obtain the highest total product amount, which is of prime importance to the farmers, B2S3 intercropping with no N-fertilizer application is recommended. Based on the results of this study, green bean and safflower are compatible and profitable crops and can be recommended to farmers for intercropping.