Effect of Planting Dates and Patterns on some Quantity and Quality Properties and Advantageous Indices of Canola (Brassica napus L.) - Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Intercropping

In order to evaluate planting date and planting pattern on yield and quality properties of canola (Brassica napus L.)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) intercropping, a split plot experiment was conducted bases on a randomized complete block design with four replications during 2014-15 in Hamedan, Iran. Canola was sown only in the first date (21 Sept). Then, chickpea was sown in four sowing date as main factor with 20 days interval including: simultaneous with canola in 21 Sept and then 10 Oct, 30 Oct and 20 Nov. The sub-factor was different planting pattern by replacement method including: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 chickpea-canola, respectively. Results showed significant effects of treatments on most of the traits. Among chickpea sowing dates, the first and the last date had the lowest and highest biological and grain yield, respectively. In the late sowing date of chickpea (20 Nov) the climate condition was much colder and therefore the damage of freezing on dormant seeds was lower than that of growing seedling of the earlier sowing date. In comparison of planting pattern, the highest biological and grain yield was achieved at sole cropping for both crops. In contrast, the higher values of relative crowding coefficient index and land equivalent ratio (LER) were obtained in intercropping system than to the sole cropping. So, for all of the intercropping treatments, LER were always higher than unit. It was concluded that 50:50 intercropping treatment had comparative advantage compared to the others treatments and could increase land use efficiency.