The investigation of yield and seed protein of pea cultivars, total yield and LER in intercropping with spinach

In order to investigate the effect of pea cultivars and planting pattern on yield and seed protein of pea, total yield and LER, a factorial experiment (two factors) was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in research farm of Gonbad Kavous University during 2016-2017. In this experiment, two cultivars of pea (Poffaki (Aspersion) and Shamshiri (Swordfish)) and a native variety of spinach were used. Nine planting pattern i.e. sole pea and spinach, replacement series of 33, 50 and 67% spinach instead of pea and additive series of 33, 50, 67 and 100% spinach to pea. Effect of pea cultivar and planting pattern were significant on most of traits. Plant length, 100-seed weight, pod weight, pod yield per plant, fresh weight of pea plant and pod yield in Poffaki was higher than Shamshiri but number of pod per plant and harvest index in Shamshiri was higher than Poffaki. Number of pod per plant, pod weight, pod yield per plant, 100-seed weight, harvest index, and fresh weight of pea in sole pea and replacement series was higher than additive series. Addition of spinach in additive series reduced traits of pea but total yield increased. According to the results, yield of Poffaki cultivar was 11.81% higher than Shamshiri and the highest total yield with 30.1 ton/ha obtained from additive series of 100% pea + 100% spinach. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was over than 1 in all intercropping treatments that indicates the superiority of intercropping.