Effects of Myco-Root biofertilizer application on quantity and quality of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil in intercropping with Cicer arietinum L.

Intercropping systems and biofertilizers application play an important role in improving the quantity and quality of plant products. In this regard, to evaluate the effects of Myco-Root biofertilizer on the quantitative and qualitative traits of Thymus vulgaris L. in intercropping with Cicer arietinum L., an experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh during 2020 growing season. Treatments included thyme sole culture, thyme sole culture inoculated with Myco-Root, chickpea sole culture, chickpea sole culture inoculated with Myco-Root, intercropping of one row chickpea+one row thyme (1:1), planting pattern of 1:1 inoculated with Myco-Root, intercropping of two rows chickpea+one row thyme (2:1), and planting pattern of 2:1 inoculated with Myco-Root. The results demonstrated that the highest seed (751.40 kg.ha-1) and biological (1645.6 kg.ha-1) yields of chickpea were obtained in the chickpea monoculture inoculated with Myco-Root, which was not significantly different from planting pattern of 2:1 inoculated with Myco-Root. Moreover, the highest dry matter yield of thyme (189.47 g.m-2) was achieved in the sole culture with application of mycorrhizal fungus. Also, the highest percentage (1.69) and essential oil yield (3.31 g.m-2) of thyme was obtained in planting pattern of 1:1 with application of mycorrhizal fungus in first harvest. Thymol, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene were recognized as the main essential oil compounds. The highest percentage of thymol and γ-terpinene was obtained in planting pattern of 1:1 inoculated with mycorrhizal fungus. Also, the highest agronomical (land equivalent ratio, area harvest equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio, and land use efficiency) and economic (intercropping advantage, monetary advantage index, and system productivity index) indices were achieved in the intercropping ratio of 2:1 and 1:1 with application of Myco-Root biofertilizer, respectively. In general, the results showed that the Myco-Root biofertilizer application in intercropping, especially the planting pattern of 1:1, could improve the quantity and quality of thyme essential oil.