Evaluation of the plant pattern of intercropping in chemical soil elements using the nonlinear response surface model

Issa Khammari, Behrooz Keshtegar, Mahdieh Rajaei, Mehdi Dahmardeh

Abstract: The suitable culture to improve soil fertilities based on chemical properties is one of the most important decisions to implement a suitable culture for the stability of income of farmers in arid regions. The effects of vermicompost and the different patterns of intercropping, including corn, peanut and borage are evaluated on optimum conditions of chemical soil elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium and carbon. The experimental data are extracted form a dry climatic region in southeast Iran, using three levels of vermicompost (0, 2.5, and 5 t/ha) and nine levels for the intercropping (including pure culture of corn, peanut, and borage in the following proportions: replacement and additive design) using split plot design, which is based on RCBD with three replications during 2015-2016. The Nonlinear Modeling-based Response Surface Method is used to predict the chemical soil elements based on vermicompost and intercropping. The effects of the different culture patterns are investigated to illustrate the sensitivity of soil fertilization. The best pattern to improve the soil’s elements is obtained by increasing the proportion of the peanut in intercropping, introducing fi ve t/ha of vermicompost, and establishing an intercropping of 80% peanut + 50% corn + 50% borage for increasing the soil nutrients.

Keywords: chemical soil elements; intercropping; nonlinear modeling; organic carbon; vermicompost

Date published: 2018-08-30