Effect of different Planting Pattern of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Bean (Vicia faba) on Grain Yield, Dry Matter Production and Weed Biomass

An experiment was conducted in University of London, Kent, UK during the year 2003. The aim of experiment was to investigate the effects of planting pattern on performance of wheat and bean intercrops. A complete randomized block design with four replications was employed to compare the treatments. Treatments included wheat sole crop (W), Bean sole crop (B), within row intercropping (M1), row intercropping (M2) and mix cropping (M3). The density of intercropping was according to replacement design (one wheat replaced by three bean plants). The results showed that total dry matter achieved by intercrops was significantly higher than those achieved by either wheat or bean sole crop. Regarding to weed control, intercrops were more effective than sole crops, especially bean sole crop. Crops performance in terms dry weight, height and percentage of leaf, stem pod and ear was affected by cropping systems depending on crop species, where wheat showed more changes compared to bean . Grain yield, harvest index and thousand grain weights of wheat were decreased in intercropping while bean had reduction only in grain yield.