Effect of different sowing methods on growth, yield and its components of wheat under intercropping patterns with Egyptian clover Var. Fahl

Abstract EN

One of the most important advantages of intercropping or sowing methods is to get the highest yield on a specified area of land through using more efficient way of the available resources.

Two successive winter field experiments were conducted at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center (A.R.C), Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 growing seasons in a split plot design with three replications to study the effects of three different sowing methods viz.

flat, terraces and rows; main plots in addition to three different mixed intercropping treatments of Egyptian clover var.

Fahlwith wheat (10, 15 and 20% of recommended seeding rate for Egyptian clover var.

Fahl(i.e.

20 kg fed-1) with 100% of recommended seeding rate of wheat [60 kg fed-1]; sub plots).

In addition, the two crops were sown as pure stand cultivation in a flat sowing method.

Results showed that sowing method of terraces and intercropping Egyptian clover var.

Fahlby 10% with 100% wheat resulted in the highest improvement of growth and yield and its components in addition to the highest crude protein content in comparison to the other sowing methods and intercropping patterns.

However, the pure stand of wheat had the highest values of grain yield fed-1 and its components in comparison to intercropping treatments.

The highest LER (land equivalent ratio; 1.30 and 1.29) and the highest total income (12034 and 11899 L.E.) were obtained when wheat was sown on terrace and intercropped with 10% of Egyptian clover var.

Fahlin both of seasons, respectively.

In conclusion, sowing method of wheat on terraces and intercropping 10% of Egyptian clover var.

Fahlwith wheat could be the appropriate suggestion for farmers in North Middle Nile Delta region, Egypt.