Effect of planting pattern and fertilizer source on plant characteristics of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in intercroppung

To study the effect of fertilizer and planting pattern on chickpea and linseed plant traits in dryland farming, a field experiment was conducted in factorial layout based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Naqadeh, Iran during growing season of 2016-2017. Treatments were included six substitutive cropping patterns; sole cropping of chickpea, sole cropping of linseed, 1 row chickpea: 1 row linseed, 2 rows chickpea: 2 rows linseed, 4 rows chickpea: 2 rows linseed, 2 rows chickpea: 4 rows linseed and four fertilizer sources: control (without fertilizer; Control), 100% chemical fertilizers (NPK), biofertilizers (Azoto Barvar1+ Phosphate Barvar2+ PotaBarvar2+ Sulfur Barvar1) and vermicompost (10 t.ha-1).  Results showed that the effect of intercropping patterns and fertilizer sources on seed yield, biological yield, oil content and oil yield of lineseed and seed yield, biological yield, number of nodules and protein content of chickpea were significant. The highest seed yield of both species was obtained from sole cropping (linseed 945 and chicpea 629 kg.ha-1), but the mean seed yield of each crop in the same unit area was higher than sole cropping (linseed 161.5 and chickpea 128.5 kg.ha-1). The oil content of linseed (6.6%) and protein content of chickpea seed (20.2%) were higher in intercropping compared to sole cropping. Fertilizer resources, especially vermicompost, increased the plant traits of both species compared to control. The maximum LER (1.55) was obtained from 4 rows of chickpea + 2 rows of linseed in control (without fertilizer application) treatment that means 55% of profitability of intercropping compared to sole cropping. According to the objectives of sustainable agriculture concerning elimination in chemical inputs application, intercropping pattern of 4 rows of chickpea + 2 rows of linseed, without fertilizer application, was more suitable in this experiment.