University of Tehran perss Journal of Crops Improvement 2008-8337 25 1 2023 03 21 Evaluation of Efficiency in Fenugreek-Black Cumin Intercropping Under Application of Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Nitrogen Fertilizer Amounts Evaluation of Efficiency in Fenugreek-Black Cumin Intercropping Under Application of Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Nitrogen Fertilizer Amounts 159 175 88352 10.22059/jci.2022.336635.2661 FA Abbas Khanamani Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. E-mail: abas.khanamani@gmail.com Enayatollah Tohidi-Nejad Corresponding Author, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, and Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. E-mail: e_tohidi@uk.ac.ir 0000-0001-7643-8410 Gholamreza Khajoei-Nejad Department of Plant Production and Genetics, and Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. E-mail: khajoei@uk.ac.ir 0000-0002-5613-6738 Jalal Ghanbari Department of Plant Production and Genetics, and Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. E-mail: jalalghanbari@agr.uk.ac.ir 0000-0002-4516-6827 Journal Article 2022 01 01 This field experiment is arranged in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times during the growing season of 2019 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. Nitrogen fertilizer rates (no-application, 50%, and 100%; 0, 75, and 150 kg urea per hectare) serve as the main factor, inoculation with growth-promoting bacteria (non-inoculation and inoculation with Pantoea agglomerans) as sub factor, and different fenugreek and black cumin cropping systems (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) as sub-sub factor. Biomass, yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), agronomy efficiency of fertilizer (AEF), and land equivalent ratio (LER) are determined. The results show that the highest biomass and NUE of studied plants are obtained from 100% fertilization and bacteria inoculation in monoculture. The total LER is also significantly improved by fertilization (between 28-51%) and bacteria inoculation (23%), showing a higher advantageous in 25:75 and 50:50 cropping patterns with LER values of 1.732 and 1.688, respectively. In contrast, reducing 50% of fertilization under bacterial inoculation increases the AEF, especially in fenugreek monoculture. Fertilization increasing the total NUE and bacteria inoculation results in the highest NUE, particularly at increased ratios of fenugreek. Fenugreek:black cumin cropping ratio of 25:75 under 100% N fertilization and bacteria inoculation with LER ≈ 2 has been the best treatment combination for gaining maximum overall productivity. Fertilization with 50% N inoculated with bacteria in the same cropping pattern can be recommended when fertilizer application is restricted. The present research suggests that the integrated application of bacteria and fertilization can enhance the overall efficiency of intercropping. This field experiment is arranged in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times during the growing season of 2019 at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. Nitrogen fertilizer rates (no-application, 50%, and 100%; 0, 75, and 150 kg urea per hectare) serve as the main factor, inoculation with growth-promoting bacteria (non-inoculation and inoculation with Pantoea agglomerans) as sub factor, and different fenugreek and black cumin cropping systems (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) as sub-sub factor. Biomass, yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), agronomy efficiency of fertilizer (AEF), and land equivalent ratio (LER) are determined. The results show that the highest biomass and NUE of studied plants are obtained from 100% fertilization and bacteria inoculation in monoculture. The total LER is also significantly improved by fertilization (between 28-51%) and bacteria inoculation (23%), showing a higher advantageous in 25:75 and 50:50 cropping patterns with LER values of 1.732 and 1.688, respectively. In contrast, reducing 50% of fertilization under bacterial inoculation increases the AEF, especially in fenugreek monoculture. Fertilization increasing the total NUE and bacteria inoculation results in the highest NUE, particularly at increased ratios of fenugreek. Fenugreek:black cumin cropping ratio of 25:75 under 100% N fertilization and bacteria inoculation with LER ≈ 2 has been the best treatment combination for gaining maximum overall productivity. Fertilization with 50% N inoculated with bacteria in the same cropping pattern can be recommended when fertilizer application is restricted. The present research suggests that the integrated application of bacteria and fertilization can enhance the overall efficiency of intercropping.

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