Journal of Crop Production and Processing

Intercropping is one of the effective components of sustainable agriculture. In order to assess the effects of nitrogen application and planting arrangement on linseed and berseem clover leaf area, light absorption and their yield an experiment was conducted as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology in 2012. The main plots included three nitrogen rates (0, 30 and 60 kg/ha of nitrogen) and subplots were different planting arrangement of linseed and berseem clover (monoculture of linseed, 70% linseed: 70% berseem clover, 70% linseed: 50% berseem clover, 50% linseed: 50% berseem clover, 50% linseed: 70% berseem clover, monoculture of berseem clover). The highest weed dry weight (286 g/m²) was obtained in monocultures of linseed when 60 kg/ha nitrogen was applied. The highest percentage of light absorption (85.3%) was achieved at different planting arrangements with application of 30 kg/ha nitrogen. The highest  seed yield of linseed (53.19 g/m²) and berseem clover (72.6 g/m²) were obtained in monocultures and 0 and 30 kg/ha nitrogen treatments, respectively. In general, linseed and berseem clover intercropping with application of 30 kg/ha nitrogen were proven beneficial as they led to the greater yield and successful weed control.