The field experiment was carried out in 2006–2008 on lessive soil developed from medium dusty loams. Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius L.) of ‘Mamut’ cv. was the experimental species. The experimental design included three intercrop plants: common vetch, lace phacelia, and oats; two soil tillage ways: a) set of pre-sowing tillage operations, sowing the intercrop plants (mid of August), pre-winter ploughing, mixing the green matter with soil, b) set of pre-sowing tillage operations, sowing the intercrop plants (mid of August), spring ploughing, mixing the plant matter with soil; as well as two plant cultivation manners: on ridges and on flat soil. It was found that spring ploughing made to mix the intercrop biomass with the soil as well as cultivation of plants on ridges significantly increased the total salsify root yields. Significantly positive influence of intercrop plants on salsify root yields, inulin content, inulin yield, and dry matter content was also recorded. Considering the roots yield and their nutritional value, plants cultivated on ridges after spring ploughing and mulching with lace phacelia appeared to be the most beneficial salsify cultivation combination.

27-36