Evaluation of Different Intercropping Patterns of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) through Competitive and Economic Indices

In order to evaluate the intercropping of barley-faba bean and choose the best planting pattern a field experiment was conducted in the growing seasons of 2015-2016 using a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and 3 replications in Ramhormoz Khuzestan, Iran. The treatments were barley sole cropping with 20 cm spacing between rows, faba bean sole cropping with 40 cm spacing between rows, 50% barley 50% faba bean, 75% barley 25% faba bean, and 25% barley 75% faba bean with 30 cm spacing between rows, and 50% barley 50% faba bean, 75% barley 25% faba bean, and 25% barley 75% faba bean with 20 cm spacing between rows. In all barley-faba bean intercropping patterns, barley’s relative crowding coefficient and the competitive ratio were higher than faba bean’s. While aggression ability index of barley was positive, that of faba bean was negative. The total yield of barley and faba bean, land equivalent ratio, and relative crowding coefficient was higher in intercropping with 30 cm spacing between rows than that with 20 cm of spacing between rows, meaning that the former pattern was more effective than the latter one. The maximum land equivalent ratio (1.11) was obtained in the mixture of 25% barley 75% faba bean with 30 cm row spacing. For the mentioned pattern, the actual yield loss index was positive and intercropping advantage and the monetary advantage were higher than other planting patterns, indicating the superiority and usefulness of this intercropping pattern compared to sole crops of barley and faba bean.