Intercropping faba bean with some legume crops for control of Orobanche crenata

Abstract

Experiments involving the intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover as well as growing faba bean alone were carried out at Assiut University on a farm naturally infested with Orobanche in two seasons. The major objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different intercropping combinations with faba bean on the infestation with Orobanche. The results obtained revealed that intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover markedly reduced the Orobanche crenata Forsk infestation of faba bean. the number of branches, the height of the first pod, the number of pods, the seed yield and the number and dry weight of Orobanche spikes were significantly affected by the intercropping treatments, but these had no significant influence on plant height, straw yield or 100-seed weight. intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover increased the faba bean seed yield, consequently the economic return was also increased.