Yield Responses of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) to Intercropping with Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Bean (Phaseoluse vulgaris L.)

In order to study the effects of intercropping on yield of black cumin in intercropping with chickpea and bean، an experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with four replications. Crops were planted as pure stands and intercrops in three arrangements: A) alternating rows of a field crop and a medicinal plant، B) two rows of field crops and one row of medicinal plant، C) alternating double rows of field crops and medicinal plants. Results showed that land equivalent ratio was more than 1 in all treatment indicating seed yield of the plants were higher in pure stands compared to intercrops but the advantages of the intercropping compared to sole cropping. Black cumin performed best in alternating rows of a field crop and a medicinal plant and alternating double rows of field crops and medicinal plants treatments and the highest partial land equivalent ratio was also related to black seed in these treatments.