Effects of cropping systems and different levels of water on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

In order to moving from the conventional to sustainable systems, a framework must be defined that transfer process in this framework happen step by step. Use of the inputs with high efficiency is one of these steps. To reach these goals, an experiment in a strip plot design based on Randomized Complete Block trial with three replications was conducted in the Research Station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran in 2013-2014. Treatments consist of Cropping Systems as vertical factor (low, medium, and high input) and Irrigation Systems (100, 80, and 60% Anise crop water requirement) as horizontal factor. The results showed that nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was not affected by the cropping systems, but the amount of water consumption had positive effects on the NUE of Anise. The Low-input system had the lowest water use efficiency (WUE). The highest WUE (0.12 kg.m-3) and NUE (34.22 kg.kg-1) were observed in the 80% water requirement treatment. Interaction between water and cropping system showed that WUE (0.17 kg.m-3) in the high input system with 80% of water need was higher than other treatments. With due attention to all of the studied factors in the medium input system and 80% water requirement, it seems that this treatment compared to the other ones is the most appropriate one for Anise in regards to water and nutrients requirements.