Assessment of growth indices of soybean, vegetative sweet basil and borage in intercropping different ratios

Use of the growth indices is a method to assessment of intercropping efficiency. In order to evaluation growth indices of soybean, sweet basil and borage in intercropping with different ratios, an experiment base on randomized complete block design was conducted with 9 treatments and 3 replications at north Khorasan in 2011. Treatments were consisted of the plants pure culture, replacement series of 75% soybean and 25% sweet basil, 50% soybean and 50% sweet basil and 25% soybean and 75% sweet basil, and these ratios were repeated for borage. The results showed that dry matter accumulation, leaf area index and crop growth rate of 75% soybean: 25% sweet basil treatment was higher compare to other treatments during season. Relative growth rate of soybean in 25: 75, soybean: sweet basil and soybean: borage was higher than other ratios. Increment of soybean proportion in intercropping caused to reduce soybean RGR. Net assimilation rate of soybean monoculture was reduced with increasing of intra-species competition. Growth indices of borage monoculture were higher than other borage ratios. The indices were reduced related to increasing of soybean proportion. LER on based of leaf area index and dry matter was higher than unit in more intercropped treatments that was demonstrates superiority of intercropping than monoculture.