Yield and Yield Components of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) in Strip Intercropping with Ajowan (Carum copticum L.) Influenced by Bio and Chemical Fertilizer

Fertilizer management is the most important factor in success of pharmaceutical crops cultivation. Application of biological fertilizers is important in production of these plants with the aim of elimination or significant reduction of chemical inputs and also increasing soil fertility and improvement of plant growth and quality. In order to investigate the effects of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of fenugreek in strip intercropping with ajowan، a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications and fifteen treatments in Nagadeh، Iran during growing season of 2011-2012. The fertilizer treatments included control (no fertilizer)، 100% chemical fertilizers (NPK) and biofertilizers +50% chemical fertilizers and strip intercropping patterns consist of 4 row of ajowan+ 2 row of fenugreek، 8 row of ajowan+ 4 row of fenugreek and 12 row of ajowan+ 6 row of fenugreek and sole cropping of each crop. Results showed that intercropping patterns had significant effect on all of mentioned traits. The maximum and the minimum grain yield and biological yield of fenugreek were obtained at monoculture and strip intercropping (12 row of ajowan+ 6 row of fenugreek)، respectively. Also، the effect of fertilizer was significant on yield and some yield components of fenugreek. Also، the effect of fertilizer was significant on yield and some yield components of both crops. The highest and the lowest grain yield and biological yield of fenugreek were obtained in chemical fertilizers and control، respectively. Calculation of LER revealed that the maximum LER values (1. 97) were obtained for strip intercropping (4 row of ajowan+ 2 row of fenugreek) with chemical fertilizers، respectively. This means that intercropping improved land use efficiency by 97%، compared with monocropping.