Effects of Biological and Chemical Fertilizers on Some Growth Indexes of Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea L.) and Dragon's Head (Lallemantia iberica Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) in Mono and Intercropping

In order to evaluate the effect of application of biological and chemical fertilizers on purslane and dragon’s head intercropping, a factorial experiment conducted on the basis of completely randomized block design with three replicates at Agricultural Research Station of Hamedan in the spring of 2014. The first factor had five levels including: pure culture of purslane, pure culture of dragon’s head, intercropping of 25% dragon’s head + 100% purslane, intercropping of 50% dragon’s head + 100% purslane, intercropping of 75% dragon’s head + 100% purslane; and the second factor had four levels including: no fertilizer treatment, application of nitrogenous chemical fertilizer (urea), application of bio-fertilizer (nitroxin) and the mixture of 50% nitrogenous chemical fertilizer + bio-fertilizer (nitroxin). Evaluation of total canopy showed that the most of intercropping systems had more leaf area index and dry matter compared to pure cropping. The maximum amount of total leaf area index was observed in additive intercropping of 50% dragon’s head + 100% purslane and the mixture of 50% nitrogenous chemical fertilizer + bio-fertilizer (nitroxin). Intercropping systems did not have any significant effect on essential oil of dragon’s head; however application of fertilizers significantly affected this trait. Thus, in a purslane-dragon’s head intercropping, the practice of 50% dragon’s head + 100% purslane and also the usage of a mixture of nitrogenous chemical and biological fertilizers can improve the growth indexes of these plants.