Investigation on yield of lettuce and garlic intercropping in rice harvested lands

ABSTRACT: Intercropping is planting of two or more species that are simultaneous in a period of their growth cycle. To study the possibility of obtaining higher yields, intercropping of lettuce and garlic was conducted during two years (2008 – 2010) in Gharakheil research station. In this research, Varesh lettuce and Mazand garlic (both are breeding varieties in Mazandaran agricultural research center) was planted both in sole culture and intercropped after rice harvesting. Lettuce seedling were planted as main crop at 50 and 60 cm more row distance and garlic was planted as accommodation crop with one or two row between lettuce row. This research was performed in randomized complete block design with 4 replication. Yield of sole and intercropping culture was evaluated. Results showed that there was growth adaptability between lettuce and garlic in intercropping. Treatments of 2 rows garlic with 20 cm distance between 50 cm lettuce rows, produced the highest yield as land equivalent ratio (LER) of it was the highest LER (1.80) sum of relative yield compare to sole culture, increased. According to results of this study, intercropping of lettuce and garlic could be recommended to vegetable farmers.