Investigating the yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius ) in intercropping with dragon head (Lallemantia iberica)

This research aims to investigate the yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) in intercropping with dragon head (Lallemantia iberica).

Mixed cropping was done based on increasing series, where Carthamus tinctorius is the main plant and Lallemantia iberica is the Sub plant. The basic design of the experiment was in the form of randomized complete blocks with four replications. Different cultivation patterns include pure Carthamus tinctorius cultivation, 100% Carthamus tinctorius with 15% Lallemantia iberica, 100% Carthamus tinctorius with 30% Lallemantia iberica, 100% Carthamus tinctorius cultivation with 45% Lallemantia iberica, 100% Carthamus tinctorius with 60%Lallemantia iberica, 100% Carthamus tinctorius with 75%Lallemantia iberica. In this study, Carthamus tinctorius traits included number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, weight of 1000 seeds, seed yield and biological yield.

The results showed that the effect of different cultivation patterns on the number of seeds per plant and seed weight was not significant, but it was significant on the number of pods per plant, seed yield and biological yield .The highest number of seeds according to the 100:30 mixed crop pattern (Lallemantia iberica- Carthamus tinctorius) and the highest seed yield and biological yield belonged to pure Carthamus tinctorius cultivation.The highest land equivalent ratio belonged to 100:30 mixed cultivation (Lallemantia iberica-Carthamus tinctorius).

100:30 intercropping pattern (Lallemantia iberica-Carthamus tinctorius) was suggested as the suitable pattern of mixed cropping due to highest grain yield, biological yield and economic benefit.