Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in the Intercropping with Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) on Different Planting Date

To evaluate the effect of different planting dates on yield and yield components of Chickpea) Cicer arietinum( in sole cropping and intercropping with Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), an experiment was conducted in completely randomized block design with three replications at Research Farm of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2013. The Treatments consisted of three sole cropping and intercropping dates as foloows: chickpea sole cropping in 13 February 2013 (PP1125), chickpea sole cropping in 22 February 2013 (PP1210), chickpea sole cropping in 16 March 2013 (PP1226), chickpea and cumin intercropping in 13 February (PC1125), replacement intercropping in 22 February (PC1210), replacement intercropping in 16 March 2013. The result showed that the highest chickpea seed yield (1435 kg.ha-1), plant height (38.5cm), number of stems (5.7), R.S-1 (3.166) and 1000-seed weight (377g) were obtained in chickpea sole cropping in 13 February planting date (PP1125). The results in intercropping treatments also showed that the highest LER (2.33) was obtained in March 16 relay intercropping treatment (PC1226) and lowest LER (1.24) in February 13 intercropping treatment (PC1125). According to the result the best dates in this region for sole cropping and intercropping with cumin, whould be second and third week of February.