Effect of different safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping patterns on growth and yield under weedy and weed-free conditions

Two field experiments were carried out over two consecutive years (2010-2011) in the research field of the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Fars Province, southern Iran. The study was a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications: the first factor was the ratio of safflower (Carthamustinctorius L. Pi cv.) to bean (Phaseolusvulgaris L. Saiad cv.) at five levels (safflower and bean sole cropping, and intercropping of safflower and bean at ratios of 1:3, 2:2 and 3:1); and the second factor was weed management at two levels: weed-free (complete weed control) and weedy (no weed control). The results showed that an intercropping system was the most appropriate method for decreasing the adverse effect of weeds on the performance of both crops. Intercropping was more suitable for weedy than weed-free conditions. According to the land equivalent ratio (LER) value, if the main crop was bean, the best intercropping treatment was one row of safflower and six rows of bean (S1B3) under both weedy and weed-free conditions. By contrast, if the main crop was safflower, the best treatment under weedy conditions was S1B3, whereas under weed-free conditions the best treatment was two rows of safflower and four rows of bean (S2B2). Overall, S1B3 can be introduced as the best intercropping method.