evaluation of yield, essential oil and productivity indices in fennel and fenugreek intercropping

in order to study of use advantage in the intercropping system fennel (foeniculum vulgare mill) and fenugreek (trigonella foenum-graecum l) in different ratios of intercropping and sole cropping, an experiment with use replacement and additive intercropping based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the research station of faculty of agriculture, university of zanjan, iran, during growing season 2012. treatments included additive intercropping in three levels (100 percent fennel + 33, 66 and 100 percent fenugreek), replacement intercropping in six levels (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 2:2, 1:3, 3:1), sole fennel and sole fenugreek. results showed that the highest grain yield of fenugreek was obtained in pure stand of fenugreek and the lowest of mentioned trait was obtained in the 75 percent fennel + 25 percent fenugreek (3:1) replacement series. also the highest and the lowest fennel grain yield were obtained in 100 percent fennel + 33 percent fenugreek additive series and 25 percent fennel + 75 percent fenugreek (1:3) replacement series respectively. yield of essential oil at 100 percent fennel + 33 percent fenugreek additive series were higher compared with sole cropping. the highest land equivalent and relative value total obtained from 100 percent fennel + 33 percent fenugreek additive series. the highest actual yield loos or gain (ayl) and intercropping advantage (ia) obtained from 25 percent fennel + 75 percent fenugreek (1:3) replacement series. aggressively index revealed that in most sowing ratios fennel was dominant and fenugreek was defeated.