Nitrogen and Phosphorus Status, Mycorrhizal Development and Crop Yields in Maize-Soybean Intercropping for Sustainable Agriculture in Drylands

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, yields of maize and soybean, spore number and colonization percentage of mycorrhiza on both maize and soybean grown in dryland intercropping systems. Theoretical Framework: The quantity of crop production is influenced by the appropriate selection of maize and soybean varieties, as well as the environmental conditions of the intercropping area. Effective plant density management ensures that sufficient growth space is available, allowing plants to thrive and develop optimally. Method: Five treatments of combination of maize and soybeans varieties were planted in a randomized block pattern with an intercropping system of three rows of each crop. The treatments were: V1: NK212 maize: Biosoy I soybean, V2: Bima 20 URI maize: Dega I soybean, V3: NASA 29 maize: Detap soybean, V4: Bisi 18 maize: Biosoy II soybean, and V5: Srikandi maize: Anjasmoro soybean. The observed variables were soil and plant nutrient levels (total nitrogen and phosphorus available), vegetative growth (roots and shoots dry weight per plant), yields (dry cob of maize and dry pod of soybean) both per plant and per plot, and mycorrhiza spore number and colonization percentage at 40 and 92 DAS. The data were analysed by two-way ANOVA with Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) means-testing at 5% significance level. Results and Discussion: The findings revealed that the V4 treatment (Bisi 18 maize: Biosoy II soybean) resulted in the best nitrogen and phosphorus nutritional status and yields, spore number, and colonization percentage from the intercropping system of maize and soybean with three rows of each crop. Hence, intercropping of equal number rows of Bisi 18 maize and Biosoy II soybean can be expected to result in the improvement of nitrogen and phosphorus status on sandy land as an eco-friendly fertilizer implementation that may help ensure environmental sustainability. Research Implications: This study demonstrated that the enhancement nitrogen and phosphorus levels, as well as the increase of spore numbers and the colonization percentage of mycorrhiza, can be achieved through intercropping three rows of Bisi 18 maize with three rows of Biosoy II soybean on sandy soil, combined with the application of eco-friendly fertilizers. This approach may promote long-term environmental sustainability and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 15 (life on land), promoting practices that enhance food security and biodiversity conservation. Originality/Value: This research presents a novel study on the significant changes in nitrogen and phosphorus nutritional status, as well as the productivity of various maize and soybean cultivars grown in a 3:3 row intercropping pattern (three rows of maize alternated with three rows of soybeans) in dryland areas. Such intercropping systems have received limited attention yet they contribute to sustainable agriculture and align with global sustainability goals.