Study of caraway and pea intercropping systems in terms of growth, productivity and competition indices under different phosphorus fertilization levels [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

Due to the importance of intercropping as one of the methods of agricultural intensification,
this research was conducted on caraway and pea crops at Experimental Farm, Fac. Agric., Zagazig
Univ., Egypt during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons. The aim of this work was studying the
influence of intercropping system (sole planting of each crop as control, 1: 1, 2: 2, 2: 3 and 3: 2 as
ridge ratio of caraway: pea, respectively), phosphorus fertilization levels (0.00, 15.50, 31.00 and 46.50
kg P2O5/feddan) as well as their combination treatments on growth, productivity and competitive
indices between caraway and pea plants. Results showed that, in most cases, alternating two ridges of
caraway with two ridges of pea recorded the highest values in plant height, branches number per plant
and total dry weight of both crops, fruits and volatile oil yield per caraway plant and pods yield per
pea plant as well as total chlorophyll content and phosphorus percentage of both crops compared to the
other intercropping systems. Additionally, the most of the measured parameters for the two crops
showed a substantial rise at the maximum level of phosphorus fertilization. When compared to the
other combinations, the 2: 2 intercropping system + 46.50 kg P2O5/feddan treatment was the most
effective. Generally, land equivalent ratio referred to that using the intercropping system of 2: 2 and
phosphorus fertilization at 46.5 kg P2O5/ feddan, one feddan may yield the same yield as 1.386 or
1.453 feddan of each crop grown separately.
Key words: Caraway, pea, intercropping, growth, productivity, competitive indices.

Summary in Arabic