Effects of intercropping on mineral content of pistachio in southeast of Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine nutrient contents of pistachio leaves and investigate the competition between main and secondary crops for nutrients of pistachio leaves. The treatments were control, barley, vetch and a mixture of barley and vetch. Twelve to sixteen m plots were established in a 20-year old pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) orchard. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block with 4 replications in Southeastern Anatolia during 2008 - 2009 growing seasons. Intercropping did not yield any significant differences on nutrient contents, except Mn of pistachio leaves. The use of barley, vetch or mixture of vetch and barley as intercropping plants did not have a negative effect on nutrient contents of pictachio trees. The results revealed that intercropping with barley, vetch and mixture of both can be adapted to the pistachio growing fields.