EFFECTS OF MONO- AND INTERCROPPING ON GROWTH AND BORON UPTAKE OF WHEAT PLANT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) CULTIVATED ON BORON-CONTAMINATED MEDIA

Abstract

Wheat plant (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown as main crop while clover (Medicago sativa L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were used as intercrops. Boron was applied in the form of Boric Acid (25, 50, & 75 mg L-1). The amount of chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, B, Ca, K, and P were determined together with % DW and % EC. % DW, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents in monocrop and intercrop leaves grown wheat plants decreased in comparison with the control group. However, increases in mentioned parameters were observed in wheat-clover intercrops. Additionally, % EC values and proline contents in the leaves of mono-cultivated wheat plant were higher compared to the control group. Intercropping of wheat plant with clover and sunflower resulted in decreased values. Furthermore, element contents of the mono-cultivated wheat leaves decreased while these values increased when intercropping with clover.