Strip Intercropping of Wheat ( <i>Triticum aestivum</i> ) With Coriander ( <i>Coriandrum sativum</i> ) Improves Wheat Yield and Water‐Use Efficiency Under Reduced Irrigation

ABSTRACT With climate change, prolonged droughts are expected, requiring agronomic strategies to ensure stable wheat yields. Intercropping presents a promising approach, yet knowledge on non‐legume intercrops remains limited. Thus, this study investigated the effects of strip intercropping spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum ‘Quintus’) with taprooted coriander ( Coriandrum sativum ‘Jantar’) on growth, grain quality of wheat, and the water‐use efficiency (WUE) of both cropping systems under two irrigation regimes: well‐watered (ww, 60% of soil maximum water‐holding capacity) and reduced irrigation (dw, 40%). Experiments were conducted in 120 L containers filled with sandy loam. Under reduced irrigation, when wheat was intercropped with coriander (WCO), wheat grain yield remained comparable to that of sole wheat (WHE), even though the intercropped pots contained only half as many wheat plants. WUE, calculated as total wheat grain yield per pot per liter of applied water, was significantly higher in the intercropping system compared to the system where wheat was growing alone under the same water regime. Moreover, wheat crude protein content was higher under reduced irrigation in both the intercropped and the stand‐alone system when being compared to well‐watered conditions. Coriander seed yield was not significantly affected by irrigation. These results indicate that wheat–coriander intercropping enhances WUE compared to the sole wheat system, stabilizing wheat yield under water‐limited conditions.