Effects of organic manure and chemical fertilizers on yield and essential oil of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) in intercropping with soybean (Glycine max L.)

Organic manure can be used as an alternative for chemical fertilizers in sustainable agriculture. Hence, compared with sole cropping systems, intercropping is a promising approach for crop production due to the lesser reliance on chemical fertilizer. In order to evaluate the effects of intercropping on yield and essential oil of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) under organic manure and chemical fertilizers, a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Shahrekord University research farm in 2016. Sole cropping of soybean (S) and dill (D) accompanied by three intercropping ratios of them (S:D 2:1, S:D 1:1, and S:D 1:2) were evaluated as the first factor, and two sources of fertilizer (chemical fertilizer, and broiler litter) as the second factor. The results showed that the highest dry matter yield of dill (1001.48 kg ha-1) and essential oil yield of dill (18.47 kg ha-1) was observed in the one-row dill + two-row soybean. The maximum essential oil percentage of dill (2.64%) was achieved in sole crop under organic manure. The highest pod/ plant (47.50) and seed yield of soybean (2192 kg ha-1) were dedicated to the two-row dill+one-row soybean under organic manure. The maximum land equivalent ratio (1.19) was achieved in treatment of one-row dill + two-row soybean under organic manure. According to the results, treatment of one-row dill + two-row soybean under organic manure had the highest land equivalent ratio, and produced a large amount of dill essential oil; therefore, it was considered as the superior treatment.