Morphological and Quantitative Yield Response of Peppermint and Guar to Simultaneous and Relay Intercropping Ratios

This study was conducted to evaluate the morphological characteristics and yield reaction of peppermint and guar to different intercropping ratios under simultaneous and delayed growing conditions at research farm of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during 2017-2018 growing season. The experiment was conducted as factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design with four replications. Planting time at two levels including simultaneous and relay (Guar cultivation 45 days after peppermint emergence) and intercropping ratios at five levels including sole peppermint, sole Guar, 50% Peppermint + 50% Guar, 25% Guar + 75% Peppermint and 25% Peppermint + 75% Guar were experimental factors. The results showed that the highest height, stem and leaf number of Guar were obtained from simultaneous intercropping of sole and 75% guar + 25% peppermint intercropping. Guar forage yield in simultaneous monoculture and 75% guar + 25% peppermint was higher. The highest number of peppermint leaves (311) was observed in monoculture. The best treatment in terms of biological yield was sole cultivation of peppermint (637 Kg.ha-1). Finally, the results of this experiment showed that in terms of Guar characteristics, monoculture treatment and 75% guar + 25% peppermint in simultaneous intercropping and in terms of peppermint traits, sole peppermint and 75% Peppermint + 25% in relay planting conditions were the best treatments. Due to the favorable effects of adding a new species to the crop ecosystem, intercropping of these plants can be substituted for sole cultivation.