Effect of planting pattern and fertilizer source on agronomic characteristics of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in intercroppng under rainfed conditions

S. Asadi, E. Rezaei-chiyaneh and R. Amirnia. 2019. Effect of planting pattern and fertilizer source on agronomic characteristics of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in intercroppung under rainfed conditions. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 21(1): 16-30. (In Persian). To study the effect of planting pattern and fertilizer source on agronomic characteritics of linseed and chickpea in intercropping in rainfed conditions, a field experiment was conducted as factorial arrangenents in randomized complete block design with three replications in Naqadeh, Iran in 2016-2017 cropping season. The first factor included six cropping patterns; one row chickpea: one row linseed, two rows chickpea: two rows linseed, four rows chickpea: two rows linseed, two rows chickpea: four rows linseed and sole cropping of each crops. The second factor included four fertilizer sources; without fertilizer (Control), 100% chemical fertilizers (NPK), biofertilizers (Azoto Barvar1+ Phosphate Barvar2+ PotaBarvar2+ Sulfur Barvar1) and vermicompost (10 t.ha). The results showed that the effect of intercropping ratios and fertilizer sources were significant on seed yield, biological yield, oil content and oil yield of lineseed and seed yield and biological yield, number of rhizobium nodules and protein content of seed of chickpea. The highest seed yield of both species was obtained from sole cropping (linseed 945 kg.ha and chickpea 629 kg.ha), however, the average seed yield of each crop, in the same per unit area, was higher than sole cropping (linseed 161. 5 and chicpea 128.5 kg.ha). The oil content of linseed (6.60%) and seed protein content of chickpea (20.26%) were higher in intercropping as compared with sole cropping. The use of fertilizer sources, especially the use of vermicompost, could increase the studied traits of both species in comparison with the control. The maximum LER (1.55) obtained from four rows of chickpea + two rows of linseed in control (without fertilizer). This means that intercropping improved land use efficiency by 55% when compared with sole cropping. Considering the goals of sustainable agriculture and elimination of chemical inputs, the intercropping ratio of four rows of chickpea + two rows of linseed without fertilizer application was more suitable package.