Effect of fertilizer sources on growth, yield and yield components of fenugreek intercropped with black cumin

In order to examine the effects of fertilizer source on growth, yield and yield components of fenugreek intercropped with black cumin, an experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research farm, College of Agriculture, Shahrekord, during growing season of 2012-2013. Sole cropping of fenugreek (F) and sole cropping of black cumin (B) and three intercropping ratios (F:B; 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) were evaluated as the first factor and three sources of fertilizer (Chemical fertilizer, broiler litter, and integrated fertilizer 50:50) as the second factor. In this experiment, the plant height, number of branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, capules/plant, seed/capsule, 1000-seed weight, and seed yield were measured. The results indicated that seed yield in intercropping treatments fertilized with chemical fertilizer was less than sole cropping for both species. However, application of integrated fertilizer and/or broiler increased the seed yield of F:B (2:1) treatment (16 and 27%) compared with F and B treatment, respectively. Increasing black cumin ratio resulted in increasing seed yield, under broiler litter application. The highest land equivalent ratio (1.57) was observed in F:B (1:2) treated with broiler litter. Therefore, medicinal plant grower that prefer organic manure, fenugreek: black cumin (1:2) treatment under broiler litter application not only compensated the reduce of yield in sole cropping treated with broiler litter but also can be increase the production of fenugreek (39%) and black cumin (54%) in comparison to their sole cropping.