Investigating of growth characteristics, yield, yield components and potential weed control in intercropping of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and vegetative sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

In order to study yield and yield components in intercropping bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and evaluating effect of intercropping on weed control, a field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during growing season of 2008. Treatments: included 1- sole crop of bean 2- sole crop of sweet basil 3- strip intercropping of bean and sweet basil (four rows of bean and two rows of sweet basil) 4- strip intercropping of bean and sweet basil (two rows of sweet basil and four rows of bean) 5- row intercropping of bean and sweet basil were with and without weed control. For this purpose a complete randomized block design with three replications was used. Results showed that dry weight of vegetative organs and stem percent of sweet basil, in sole crop with weed control treatment were significantly higher than in other treatments. And highest leaf percentage was in four rows bean and two rows sweet basil intercropping. There was no significant difference in plant height in the first harvest of sweet basil but in second harvest row intercropping had highest height. Maximum leaf area index (LAI) was absorbed in four rows of sweet basil two rows of bean. Effect of different treatments on essential oil percentage was not significant. Highest essential oil yield was in sole crop sweet basil and four rows of sweet basil two rows of bean intercropping. For bean economic and biological yield, number of pods, number of seeds per plant and height were affected by different treatments and but there was no significant difference in number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and harvest index in bean. The highest leaf area index in bean was in row intercropping. Lowest dry mater of weed was in row intercropping and the highest in sole crop. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) was obtained in row intercropping with weed control.