Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. The seeds of this plant contain essential oil which is used in various cosmetic, hygiene, food, and pharmaceutical industries. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of weed control and intercropping of coriander with fenugreek on coriander yield and essential oil production.
Methods: The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates at the Meshgin-Shahr Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station in 2018. The main plots were comprised weed control (weeded vs. unweeded). The sub-factor was the cropping system, which included sole crops of coriander and fenugreek, and five intercropping treatments with different fenugreek seed spacings (7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 17.5 cm).
Results: Weed control significantly improved most measured traits in coriander, except for harvest index. The cropping system also significantly affected all coriander traits except plant height, number of secondary branches, and essential oil yield. The interaction between weed control and intercropping was significant for plant height, number of umbels per plant, and grain yield. The highest essential oil percentage was found in the 17.5 cm and 15 cm intercropping treatments. The number of seeds per umbel increased in all intercropping systems, while the highest biological yield was in sole coriander cropping. The highest 1000-grain weight was in the 7.5 cm intercropping treatment, and the highest grain harvest index was in the 17.5, 15, and 12.5 cm intercropping treatments. The highest number of umbels per coriander plant (11.1) was achieved in the 10 cm intercropping under weed-controlled conditions. However, the highest grain yield (660.7 kg.ha⁻¹) was obtained from the weeded sole coriander crop. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was greater than one for all intercropping treatments, confirming the superiority of intercropping over sole cropping. The highest LER values were observed in the 7.5 cm and 10 cm intercropping treatments under both weeded and unweeded conditions.
Conclusion: Intercropping coriander with fenugreek, particularly at denser fenugreek spacings (7.5 and 10 cm), is an effective strategy. This system led to improved coriander quality yield in some intercropping treatments and improved yield components through effective weed suppression and more efficient use of land resources. Overall, combining intercropping with weed control is a sustainable method to reduce weed damage and increase productivity and quality in coriander cultivation.
Keywords: Essential oil, Land Equivalent Ratio, Planting density, Weed management, Yield components.
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