Effect of different nitrogen doses in cauliflower–crispy lettuce intercropping systems on plant growth and yield

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different nitrogen doses in cauliflower-crispy lettuce intercropping on plant growth, yield and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) in Erzurum echological conditions in 2014-2015. The effects of different nitrogen doses applications and intercropping cauliflower with crispy lettuce significantly affected plant weight, leaf weigt, yield, head weight, head diameter, head height, chlorophyll value (SPAD) and amount of vitamin C. In the experiment, LER value was also calculated as an expression of field use effidency intercropping in studies. It has been observed that the yield of cauliflower was significantly affected by different nitrogen level applications, and generally increased with increasing nitrogen level. Cauliflower intercropping with crispy lettuce treatmens did not affect negatively plant growth and yield of cauliflower regardless of nitrogen treatments. The land equivalent ratio (LER) values as land use efficiency were more than 1 in intercropping plots. The highest LER values were determined in cauliflower+crispy lettuce treatmens when 16 and 20 kg/da N was applied. As a result, it has been determined cauliflower intercropping with crispy lettuce can be more effective than sole caulıflower cropping to utilize and increase the total yield obtained per unit area.