Intercropping of Flax Seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Under Foliar Application of Iron Nano Chelated and Zinc

In order to evaluate the intercropping advantage of flax seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)under foliar application of Nano chelated iron and zinc, a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications on the filed located in Naghedeh,West Azerbaijan province, Iran during growing season of 2013-2014. The fertilizer treatments included control (no fertilizer), Nano chelated iron, Nano chelated zinc and Nano chelated iron+ Nano chelated zinc and intercropping patterns consist of one row of flax seed + one row of pinto bean, one row of flax seed + two rows of pinto bean, two rows of flax seed + one row of pinto bean, two rows of flax seed + two rows of pinto bean and sole cropping of each crop. Results showed that the intercropping patterns had significant effect on all of mentioned traits. The highest seed and biological yield of pinto bean were achieved in solecropping but the maximum protein content was observed in row intercropping. In flaxseed, the highest biological yield, seed yield and protein content were obtained in sole-cropping, however, the highest oil percentage of all treatments was higher than solecropping. Foliar spray with Nano chelated iron and zinc had significant effect on quantitative and qualitative yield of flax seed and pinto bean. Quantitative and qualitative yield of flax seed and pinto bean were enhanced by foliar spray of Nano chelated iron and zinc, compared with control. Among treatments, combined usage of Nano chelate showed the greater increasing in studied traits than individual consumption. The maximum LER values (1.89) were obtained for two rows of flax seed + two rows of bean with Nano chelated iron, respectively. This means that intercropping improved land use efficiency by 89%, compared with solecropping

Effect of Foliar Application of Iron, Zinc and Manganese Micronutrients on Yield and Yield Components and Seed Oil of Pot Marigold ) Calendula officinalis L.)

Although micronutrients effect on growth and yield of different plants has been intensively investigated, but there is limited information on its effect on grain yield and seed oil content of pot marigold) Calendula officinalis L.). In order to investigate the effects of micronutrients (Fe, Zn and Mn) spraying on yield and yield components and seed oil of pot marigold, a field experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of Payame Noor University of Nagadeh in 2010. Treatments included Fe, Zn, Mn, mixed solutions of these elements (Fe+Zn, Fe+Mn, Zn+Mn, Fe+Zn+Mn) and control (water). Treatments were applied in 2 g/litter twice at stem elongation and early flowering stages. Different traits such as plant height, number of capitol per plant, number seed per capitol, thousand seed weight, biological yield, seed yield, seed oil percentage and oil Yield were recorded. The results showed that foliar application of micronutrients had significant effects on all of these traits. Yield components, seed yield, oil percentage and yield were enhanced by foliar application, compared with control (untreated plants). The maximum number seed per capitol, thousand seed weight and biological yield were relevant to Fe treatment. The highest numbers of capitol per plant and seed yield (643.33 kg.ha-1) were relevant to Zn+Fe treatment and the maximum oil yield (124.20 kg.ha-1) was produced by Zn+ Fe+ Mn treatment. Seed yield and oil yield increased by 31.27% and 44.18% yields more than control, respectively. It can be concluded that, foliar application of micronutrients had positive effects to obtain high yield and oil of pot marigold

Intercropping and fertilizer type impact seed productivity and secondary metabolites of dragon’s head and fenugreek

Intercropping of medicinal plants is a relatively new practice to enhance sustainability in medicinal plant production. However, only a few studies paid attention to response of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants to organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers in intercropping system. Here, we evaluated the effects of different fertilizer types (bacterial fertilizer, mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost) plus an unfertilized control, in factorial combination with a monocrop or various intercropping ratios on seed and oil yields, root colonization, nutrient contents and secondary metabolites of dragon’s head (DH) and fenugreek (F) in a two-year experiment. Organic and bio-fertilizers were effective in increasing the seed and fixed oil yields of dragon’s head and fenugreek, essential oil of dragon’s heads and the diosgenin and trigonelline content of fenugreek mainly due to enhanced nutrient uptake and root colonization. Across intercropping systems, bacterial and vermicompost fertilizers resulted in highest values for most parameters, followed by mycorrhizal and unfertilized control. Total land equivalent ratio (LER) for seed yield of DH and F was >1 in all comparisons, implying that intercropping always performed better than monocropping systems of both species. In the comparison among the intercropping systems, the highest seed, fixed and essential oil contents in dragon’s head were attained with the 75DH:25F followed by the 60DH:40F intercropping ratios. The highest values of most secondary metabolites and oil compounds were obtained from the intercropping ratio of 60DH:40F with the bacterial biofertilizer. The main fatty acids in DH’s oil were saturated palmitic acid and stearic acid and unsaturated oleic and linoleic acids. The main essential oil components of DH were thymol, carvacrol, spathulenol, and caryophyllene oxide. The major fatty acids of F were palmitic, linoleic, oleic, linolenic and stearic acids. The present research suggests that different intercropping system ratios with the application of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers represent an effective strategy to enhance the overall seed and oil yields and the secondary metabolites of dragon’s heads and fenugreeks