Comparison of different intercropping arrangements of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and lentil (Lens culinaris)

To evaluate the effects of different intercropping arrangements of cumin and lentil on plant growth and yield, an experiment was conducted in Agricultural Research Station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in the growing season of the year 2004. Treatments were A: row intercropping of cumin and lentil B: strip intercropping of cumin and lentil (three cumin rows and three lentil rows) C: strip intercropping of cumin and lentil (four cumin rows and four lentil rows) D: sole crop of cumin (six rows) E: sole crop of lentil (six rows). For this purpose a complete randomized block design with 4 replications was used. Results showed that economic and biologic yield of cumin, 1000-seeds weight, number of seeds per umbel were affected by different intercropping arrangements and there was a decreasing trend in these parameters from intercropped to the sole crop. Biological and economic yield and also harvest index for lentil were higher in sole crop compared with intercrop. There was a decreasing trend in LER from row intercropped to strip cropping and the highest LER (1.86) was obtained from treatment A and the least (1.26) was obtained in treatment C.