Competitive Indices Between Coriander and Fenugreek Determination as Affected by Intercropping Under Phosphorus Fertilizer

Abstract

In order to determine the competitive indices between coriander and fenugreek, a field experiment was established at a Privet Farm, Abo-Hammad District, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during 2023 and 2024 seasons. Various intercropping systems (sole planting of both crops as control, 1: 1, 2: 2 and 2: 3 as row ratio between coriander: fenugreek, respectively) as well as various phosphorus fertilizer rate (0.0, 15, 30 and 45 kg P₂O₅/feddan) and their combination treatments were tested. The intercropping systems was distributed in main plot while the phosphorus fertilizer rates were placed in subplot in a split plot design with three replicates. The results referred to that the maximum land equivalent ratio (1.35 and 1.39), area× time equivalent ratio (1.14 and 1.18) and land utilization efficiency (124.56 and 128.90 %) values were obtained under 2: 3 system. Generally, the best combination treatment concern LER (1.43 and 1.41), ATER (1.23 and 1.20) and LUE% (132.87 and 130.76 %) was 2: 3 combined with 15 kg P₂O₅/feddan. Coriander plants were a predominant component (it has a positive signs), while, fenugreek plants were defeated one (it has a negative signs). Likewise, competitive ratio was a greatest for coriander plants compared to the competitive ratio values for fenugreek which recorded the lowest values. From a competitive indices assessment, it could be recommended that intercrop coriander and fenugreek at 2: 3 system and fertilize with phosphorus at15 kg P₂O₅/feddan was the best farmers agriculture practice for both crops.