Effect of Biofertilizers and Mulching on Growth, Yield and Omega-3 fatty acid of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Intercropped with Dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fischer & C.A. Meyer)

The effect of mulching and biofertilizer on qualitative and quantitative traits of purslane in intercropped with dragon’s head, examined by a field experiments with a factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of University of Tabriz during two growing seasons of 2015 and 2016. Cropping systems including sole cropping of purslane and dragon’s head, additive intercropping of dragon’s head + purslane (20, 40, 60 +100 %) were evaluated as the first factor, mulch application including wheat straw mulch and no mulch as the second factor and two types of fertilization including application of 100% chemical fertilizer and 50% chemical + biological fertilizers as the third factor. The results showed that mulch application significantly increased the number of branches, plant height, yield, oil content and omega-3 of pursulane and decreased leaf temperature. The highest number of branches (7.19) and yield (47.26 g.m-2) were observed in sole cropped and second year; while the highest plant height and lowest soil temperature was observed in D60 + P100 cropping pattern. Also, neither all of the traits were significantly affected by fertilizer treatment. The highest land equivalent ratio (1.56) and relative value total (1.27) were obtained from dragon’s head with purslane intercropping (D40 + P100) and mulch application and combinative application of chemical and biological fertilizers. Total actual yield loss for most of the intercropping combinations was greater than zero, which indicates the superiority of intercropping to monoculture.