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Rabiee M, Shaker Kouhi S. Agronomical, Ecological and Economical Evaluation of Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and Vetch (Vicia panonica) Intercropping in Rotation After Rice. Journal of Crop Production and Processing 2026; 16 (2) :75-91
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3406-en.html
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3406-en.html
Department of Seed Improvement, Rice Research Institute, Rasht, Iran. , rabiee_md@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract: (10 Views)
Extended Abstract:
Introduction: As the global population increases and natural resources degrade, new and sustainable approaches are necessary to ensure food security. Intercropping is considered as one of the components of sustainable agriculture, where two or more species are grown in the same location to take advantage of the beneficial effects between the species. Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cereal which can grow fast, suppress weed pressure and provide high dry matter yield, but the protein content of the forage is low. Intercropping of triticale and vetch (Vicia panonica) has been suggested to increase forage quality. Despite the high potential of paddy fields in the northern provinces of Iran, unfortunately, most of these paddy fields are left unused for about 7 months after rice harvesting. Intercropping of forage crops after rice harvesting in paddy fields can be an effective strategy to provide fodder for livestock, increase land productivity, sustainability of rice production, increase paddy farmers' income, and thus prevent rural out-migration. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to examine agronomical, ecological and economic indicators of triticale and vetch intercropping in rotation after rice.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research fields of the Rice Research Institute of Iran in Rasht during two cropping seasons of 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The experimental treatments included intercropping of triticale and vetch with replacement ratios of 1:1 (one row of triticale + one row of vetch), 2:2 (two row of triticale + two row of vetch), 3:1 (three row of triticale + one row of vetch) and 1:3 (one row of triticale + three row of vetch) as well as sole cropping of triticale and vetch. In this study, traits such as dry forage yield, crude protein content and protein yield were evaluated. The beneficial indicators of intercropping including land equivalent ratio (LER), actual yield loss (AYL), relative crowding coefficient (K), competitive ratio (CR), relative value total (RVT) monetary advantage index (MAI), intercropping advantage (IA) and system productivity index (SPI), were calculated. Data was analyzed using SAS software, and mean comparisons were done by least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the cropping pattern had significant effect on dry forage yield, crude protein content and protein yield. The highest dry forage yield (12157 kg ha-1) and protein yield (1695 kg ha-1) was obtained from 3:1 triticale:vetch intercropping. The ratio of 1:1 triticale:vetch was in the next rank. The lowest dry forage yield (7906 kg ha-1) was related to monoculture of vetch. Increasing the proportion of vetch in intercropping resulted in higher crude protein content and consequently improved forage quality. The land equivalent ratio in all intercropping treatments was more than one. The highest value of this index was obtained in the 1:3 and 1:1 triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The total AYL values were positive in all intercropping treatments. The ratio of 3:1 triticale:vetch had the highest total AYL (0.62). The higher values of the CR and K for triticale indicate its competitive superiority over vetch. The maximum value of total K (4.54) was revealed at ratio of 3:1 triticale:vetch. The ratio of 1:1 triticale:vetch was also ranked next. The ratios of 1:1, 3:1 and 2:2 triticale:vetch treatments with relative value total (1.32), (1.28) and (1.22) were ranked first to third, respectively. The highest and lowest intercropping advantage was obtained from 3:1
(7295) and 2:2 (2061) triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The maximum MAI was observed in the ratios of 1:1 (19585677) and 3:1 (19175048) triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The increased MAI index in these ratios can be attributed to the higher LER and total K. The SPI was positive across all intercropping ratios, indicating the overall effectiveness of intercropping. According to the results, the maximum value of SPI was obtained from 1:1 and 3:1 triticale:vetch treatments, respectively.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, to achieve optimal forage yield and greater economic advantage, the ratios of 3:1 and 1:1 triticale:vetch are recommended as the most suitable intercropping combinations for second crop after rice harvesting in paddy fields of Guilan province in north of Iran. These findings suggest that the intercropping of forage crops in rotation after rice could play a pivotal role in improving paddy farmers' income and sustainable rice production.
Introduction: As the global population increases and natural resources degrade, new and sustainable approaches are necessary to ensure food security. Intercropping is considered as one of the components of sustainable agriculture, where two or more species are grown in the same location to take advantage of the beneficial effects between the species. Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cereal which can grow fast, suppress weed pressure and provide high dry matter yield, but the protein content of the forage is low. Intercropping of triticale and vetch (Vicia panonica) has been suggested to increase forage quality. Despite the high potential of paddy fields in the northern provinces of Iran, unfortunately, most of these paddy fields are left unused for about 7 months after rice harvesting. Intercropping of forage crops after rice harvesting in paddy fields can be an effective strategy to provide fodder for livestock, increase land productivity, sustainability of rice production, increase paddy farmers' income, and thus prevent rural out-migration. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to examine agronomical, ecological and economic indicators of triticale and vetch intercropping in rotation after rice.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research fields of the Rice Research Institute of Iran in Rasht during two cropping seasons of 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The experimental treatments included intercropping of triticale and vetch with replacement ratios of 1:1 (one row of triticale + one row of vetch), 2:2 (two row of triticale + two row of vetch), 3:1 (three row of triticale + one row of vetch) and 1:3 (one row of triticale + three row of vetch) as well as sole cropping of triticale and vetch. In this study, traits such as dry forage yield, crude protein content and protein yield were evaluated. The beneficial indicators of intercropping including land equivalent ratio (LER), actual yield loss (AYL), relative crowding coefficient (K), competitive ratio (CR), relative value total (RVT) monetary advantage index (MAI), intercropping advantage (IA) and system productivity index (SPI), were calculated. Data was analyzed using SAS software, and mean comparisons were done by least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the cropping pattern had significant effect on dry forage yield, crude protein content and protein yield. The highest dry forage yield (12157 kg ha-1) and protein yield (1695 kg ha-1) was obtained from 3:1 triticale:vetch intercropping. The ratio of 1:1 triticale:vetch was in the next rank. The lowest dry forage yield (7906 kg ha-1) was related to monoculture of vetch. Increasing the proportion of vetch in intercropping resulted in higher crude protein content and consequently improved forage quality. The land equivalent ratio in all intercropping treatments was more than one. The highest value of this index was obtained in the 1:3 and 1:1 triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The total AYL values were positive in all intercropping treatments. The ratio of 3:1 triticale:vetch had the highest total AYL (0.62). The higher values of the CR and K for triticale indicate its competitive superiority over vetch. The maximum value of total K (4.54) was revealed at ratio of 3:1 triticale:vetch. The ratio of 1:1 triticale:vetch was also ranked next. The ratios of 1:1, 3:1 and 2:2 triticale:vetch treatments with relative value total (1.32), (1.28) and (1.22) were ranked first to third, respectively. The highest and lowest intercropping advantage was obtained from 3:1
(7295) and 2:2 (2061) triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The maximum MAI was observed in the ratios of 1:1 (19585677) and 3:1 (19175048) triticale:vetch treatments, respectively. The increased MAI index in these ratios can be attributed to the higher LER and total K. The SPI was positive across all intercropping ratios, indicating the overall effectiveness of intercropping. According to the results, the maximum value of SPI was obtained from 1:1 and 3:1 triticale:vetch treatments, respectively.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, to achieve optimal forage yield and greater economic advantage, the ratios of 3:1 and 1:1 triticale:vetch are recommended as the most suitable intercropping combinations for second crop after rice harvesting in paddy fields of Guilan province in north of Iran. These findings suggest that the intercropping of forage crops in rotation after rice could play a pivotal role in improving paddy farmers' income and sustainable rice production.
Keywords: Competitive ratio, Economic advantage, Land equivalent ratio, Second crop, System productivity
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