Advantage of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Intercropping in Different Cropping Patterns

In order to evaluate of peppermint and faba bean intercropping, a field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with eight treatment and three replication at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh during 2015 growing season. Treatments were included sole planting of peppermint and faba bean, 1 row peppermint 1 row faba bean, 1 row peppermint 2 rows faba bean, 2 rows peppermint 1 row faba bean, 2 rows peppermint 3 rows faba bean, 3 rows peppermint 2 rows faba bean, 1 row peppermint 3 rows bean and 3 rows peppermint 1 row bean. Intercropping different patterns were calculated by means of land equivalent ratio (LER), standard land equivalent ratio (LERS), area time equivalent ratio (ATER), area harvest equivalent ratio (AHER), land use efficiency (LUE), peppermint equivalent yield (EYP), relative crowding coefficient (RCC or K), aggressivity (A), competitive ratio (CR), actual yield loss (AYL), monetary advantage index (MAI), intercropping advantage (IA), system productivity index (SPI) and relative value total (RVT). Results showed that seed yield of faba bean per occupied unit area and per intercropped unit area were affected significantly by intercropping patterns. The highest seed yield of faba bean per occupied unit was obtained in the 2:3 and 1:3 treatments. In addition, the highest seed yield of faba bean per intercropped unit area observed in faba bean sole crop. The highest values of LER, LERS, ATER, AHER, LUE, EYP, IA, MAI and SPI obtained in 2:3, 3:2 and 1:3 intercropping patterns, indicating that the intercropping systems were the most profitable on basis of agronomical and economical. Generally, the A, CR and AYL values in peppermint were higher than bean, indicating that peppermint was more competitive and dominant than faba bean. Generalley, in basis of more agronomy and economic indices in 2:3 cropping pattern, this cropping pattern was superier than other treatments.