Intercropping durum wheat and chickpea increases nutrient availability and use efficiency under low phosphorus soils

Abstract

Intercropping cereals with legumes may achieve high crop yields at reduced input levels. However, few data are available with regards to the ability of the intercropping legumes and cereals to increases nutrient availability and use efficiency under low phosphorus soils. To address this question, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Flip 90-13 C) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum L. cv. Simeto), were grown as sole- and inter-crops over two growing seasons 2019 and 2020. The results showed that both the plant biomass and nodulation and, consequently, the amount of P uptake were significantly increased for intercropping than for sole cropping and so more in 2020 compared to 2019. Moreover, grain yield and resource P use efficiency were significantly improved, as indicated by higher land equivalent ratio (LER > 1) in intercropping over sole cropping treatments. Nevertheless, the intercropped chickpea considerably increased the inorganic P availability in durum wheat rhizosphere over two growing seasons. Our findings suggest that intercropping promotes the ability of durum wheat and chickpea to increase rhizosphere nutrient availability and land use efficiency under low-P soils conditions.