Essential oil production of dill affected by different intercropping patterns with berseem clover and harvesting times.

Abstract

Intercropping is the practice of producing multiple crops in a given space. In this research berseem clover and dill were intercropped at different additive series (100:25, 100:50 and 100:75) at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran. Field experiment was arranged as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replicates. Dill umbels were harvested at flowering, dough development and complete ripening stages. Results showed that among harvesting times, dough development stage and among intercropping patterns, 100:50 treatment had the highest essential oil percentage, essential oil yield and harvest index of essential oil. Berseem clover as a forage and legume crop promotes dill essential oil production and could be an effective plant in intercropping systems with essential oil bearing medicinal plants such as dill.