Intercropping patterns and different farming systems affect the yield and yield components of safflower and bitter vetch

Abstract

This factorial field experiment was done based on a randomized complete block design in Urmia University, Iran, in 2013 and was repeated in 2014. Treatments included two farming systems (high input and organic) and different intercropping patterns that alternated bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L.) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) with row ratios of 2:2, 3:2, 4:2 and 5:2. Sole cropping of bitter vetch and safflower was used as the control. In both years, the 2:2 intercropping pattern had biomass yield advantages compared to sole cropping and the other intercropping ratios, based on greater land equivalent ratio values. Safflower had higher relative crowding coefficients, competitive ratio (CR) and aggressivity (A) values than bitter vetch. High-input farming was more effective than the organic system in both years. Safflower was the superior competitor when grown with bitter vetch, and its productivity dominated the total biomass yields. Thus, intercropping of safflower with bitter vetch has the potential to improve performance with high land-use efficiency.