Evaluation of Yield and Protein Content of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in Intercropping with Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under Biological and Chemical Fertilizers

Intercropping and biofertilizer application are the important strategies for reducing the risks of agricultural production and enhancing crop yield and quality in developing sustainable agriculture. In order to evaluate the effect of chemical and biofertilizers in safflower/faba bean intercropping, two field experiments were carried out based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2015 and 2016. The first factor was including four cropping systems including sole croppings of safflower and faba bean; two intercropping patterns with ratio of 1:1 and 2:1 (safflower/faba bean). The second factor was four levels of fertilizers including no fertilizer,100% chemical fertilizer (urea+ triple superphosphate), 30% and 60% chemical fertilizer + biofertilizer (Azoto barvar1 + Phosphate barvar 2). Results revealed that the integrated use of chemical and biological fertilizers in intercropped plants (1:1) caused to increasing yield components of safflower and protein harvest index for both years. The highest oil and protein content was also attributed to plants fed by 60% chemical plus biological fertilizers. Land equivalent ratio and relative value total was above 1.00 in all treatments, and the highest amount of them were achived from intercropping patterns with ratio of 1:1 and the combinative application of 60% chemical and biological fertilizers. Therefore, it was concluded that intercropping (safflower/faba bean) with integrated use of the reduced chemical and biological fertilizers, improved growth and quality of safflower.