INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS OF BARLEY AND LUPIN OR CHICKPEA IN SOLELY OR INTERCROPPING PLANTING UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF NEWLY RECLAIMED SOIL.

Abstract

A field trial conducted on barley, lupin and chickpea crops waspracticed in sand loamy newly reclaimed soil at the experimental farmof the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, during 2006/07 and2007/08 seasons. This work was designed to study the effect of nitrogenfertilizer rates (15, 30 and 45 kg N/fed.) on the three crops grown as soleand intercropping (barley/chickpea and barley/lupin). A split split-plotarrangement in randomized complete block design with threereplications was used. The obtained results showed that, compared withthe barley/chickpea pattern, monocrop chickpea had significantlyimproved yielding and quality traits. Whereas, intercropping had higherseed index. Fertilization with 45% N (N3) led to increases in vegetativeand reproductive and consequently seed yield/fed. However, similarmeans of height to first branch and seed index were obtained fromapplication of 30 kg N/fed. (N2) which produced the highest harvestindex. Compared with monocrop culture, barley/lupin intercroppingresulted in significant increases of lupin height traits in addition itssuperiority for number of branches and seed index but with inferior seedweight/plant. The heaviest weight of seeds/plant and yield/fed. wereobtained from soled lupin. Nitrogen application results revealed theadequacy of N3 for lupin where it produced acceptable seed yield/fed.due to its superior number of pods and harvest index. Except seed andharvest indices all barley traits were significantly affected byintercropping in favour to soled culture. Intercropping barley producedmore than half yield/fed. Compared with solid culture. Nitrogenfertilization indicated the suitability of N2 (30 kg N/fed.) for producingimproved yield insignificantly different from that of N3. Under croppingpatterns with N2 fertilizer dose, the second yielding combinations werebarley/chickpea (12.18 ard) and then barley/lupin (11.08 ard) whichrepresented 61 and 55% of yield of soled barley fertilized with N3.These results indicating that chickpea was of better effect than lupin onbarley yielding ability and fertilization with the intermediate nitrogendose (N2) was quite enough for intercropping. Also, with N2barley/chickpea and barley/lupin yielded 49% chickpea together with61% barley with LER of 1.15 as well as 46% lupin together with 55%barley with LER 1.21, respectively, compared with sole culture of eachcrop. These two intercropping –N2 combinations increased totalproduction by 15% and 21% respectively.