Investigation of growth characteristics and yield of safflower in intercropping with lentils under weed management conditions

One of the ways to sustainable agriculture is to increase the diversity in the ecosystem of agricultural systems by using intercropping of crops. The aim of this study was to control and manage weeds, evaluate the growth characteristics and yield of safflower mixed with lentils.

The experiment was conducted in the form of split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, in the 2019-2020. Main plots include weed control at two levels (weed control and non-weed control) and sub-plots include different intercropping patterns (monoculture safflower, monoculture lentil, additive intercropping 100% safflower + 25% lentils, 100% safflower + 50% lentils, 100% safflower + 75% lentils, 100% safflower + 100% lentils and replacement pattern 50% safflower + 50% lentils).

The results showed the lowest number of species (3.5 and 6.2 species per m2, respectively), density (32 and 26 plants per m2, respectively) and weed dry matter (64.2 and 76.6 g m-2, respectively) in additive intercropping 100% safflower + 75% lentils and 100% safflower + 100 lentils. Monoculture safflower and lentils had the highest density and dry matter of weeds. The highest radiation use efficiency in safflower and lentils (4.44 and 4.67 mj m-2, respectively) was obtained in the additive intercropping 100% safflower + 100% lentils under weed control conditions.