INFLUENCE OF INTERCROPPING ONION WITH FABA BEAN ON FABA BEAN PRODUCTIVITY AND ITS QUALITY UNDER DIFFERENT RIDGE WIDTHS

Abstract

The study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2013/14 and 2014/15 at the farm of Sers El-Lyan Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, El – Menofiya Governorate, Egypt to study the influence of different ridge widths and patterns of intercropping onion with faba bean on faba bean productivity and its quality. The treatments between three ridge widths (60, 90 and 120 cm) and ten cropping systems (100% faba bean + 27% onion, 100% faba bean + 33% onion, 100% faba bean + 41% onion, 100% faba bean + 55% onion, sole faba bean 'recommended', sole faba bean 'I', sole faba bean 'II', sole onion 'recommended', sole onion 'I' and sole onion 'II') were studied. The experimental layout was conducted in split plot design with three replications by allocating the ridge widths in the main-plots and cropping systems in the sub-plots. Sub-plot area consisted of (12 ridges-60 cm width or 8 ridges-90 cm width and 6 ridges-120 cm apart) and 3 meters long. The results showed that’ faba bean at ridges 90 cm had the highest values of number of seeds per pod and plant and pods weights, seed yield per plant , 100 – seed weight and harvest index. Meanwhile’ the widest ridge width produced the highest seed and straw yields per fad and seed phosphate content compared to the other ridge widths. Sole faba bean had the highest numbers of branches per plant and pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, plant total weight, pods weight per plant, seed yield per plant, 100 – seed weight, seed yield per fad, protein yield per fad, harvest index and seed phosphate content compared to those of intercropping patterns. Intercropping pattern of 100% faba bean + 27% onion produced the highest numbers of branches and pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pods weight per plant, seed yield per plant, 100 – seed weight, seed yield per fad and protein yield per fad compared to those of the other intercropping patterns. The interaction between ridge widths and cropping systems was significant for most traits. Intercropping pattern of 100% faba bean + 55% onion of ridge width 120 cm achieved high seed P content and seed yield per fad