Effect of plant density and planting pattern on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Balangu (Lallenamntia royleana Benth.)

In order to evaluate the effects of plant density and planting pattern on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Balangu (Lallemantia royleana Benth.) as a medicinal plant, an experiment was conducted at Research station of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during growing season of 2011-2012. A factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with nine treatments and three replications was used. The treatments comprised three levels of planting density (60, 70 and 80 plants.m-2) and three levels of planting pattern (row planting, mixed row planting and flat planting). Studied criteria of Balangu were quantitative characteristics (such as number of lateral stems, plant height, 1000-seed weight, biological and seed yield and harvest index) and qualitative characteristics (including mucilage content and yield; and swelling factor). Results showed that all quantitative characteristics of Balangu except 1000-seed weight were significantly increased by plant density. Qualitative characteristics were not significantly affected by plant density except mucilage yield but the maximum quantitative and qualitative characteristics were obtained by row planting. Interactions between plant density and planting pattern showed that the maximum of seed and mucilage yield were obtained by row planting and plant density of 80 plants.m-2. Non significantly affected by planting pattern and plant density showed that Balangu can tolerates the environmental effects and this is the important property for plants selection and development.