Abstract
Intercrops and organic fertilizers can improve the productivity of cropping systems due to increased soil nutrient availability and plant nutrient use efficiency. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different intercropping ratios and fertilizer types on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and yields of fenugreek and buckwheat at the research farm of Shahrekord University, Iran. The treatments consisted of sole cropping of fenugreek (F), buckwheat (B) and three intercropping ratios (F:B = 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1) under three fertilizer types: chemical fertilizer (CF), integrated fertilizer (IF) and broiler litter (BL). At flowering and at harvest, intercropping increased total above-ground dry matter (TAGDM), total seed yield, N and P concentrations (plant) and uptake. The applied N use efficiency and applied N recovery efficiency (ANUE, ANRE) in the intercropped plots were also higher as compared to the sole cropping. The intercropping ratio of F:B (2:1) was the most suitable for improving the tested nutrient variables. The IF and BL showed significant benefits as compared to CF, for TAGDM, total seed yield, NC and PC in the plant, as well as N and P uptake in sole and intercrops. For ANUE and ANRE, CF proved to be more effective. This study showed that a 2:1 fenugreek–buckwheat intercropped system with the application of IF and BL can successfully be implemented for improving productivity, N and P contents of fenugreek and buckwheat as well as the nutrient land equivalent ratio (compared with sole cropping with CF) under semi-arid growing conditions.
Highlights
Best agricultural management practices implemented in agricultural production systems can help to achieve efficient crop nutrient use as well as improve crop diversity in the landscape
This study showed that a 2:1 fenugreek–buckwheat intercropped system with the application of integrated fertilizer (IF) and broiler litter (BL) can successfully be implemented for improving productivity, N and P contents of fenugreek and buckwheat as well as the nutrient land equivalent ratio under semiarid growing conditions
A significant effect of intercropping and fertilizer type was found on the AGDMP of fenugreek and buckwheat at the flowering stage (Fig. 1a–d)
Summary
Best agricultural management practices implemented in agricultural production systems can help to achieve efficient crop nutrient use as well as improve crop diversity in the landscape. Intercropping (with or without legumes), fertilizer management, crop rotations and reduced tillage practices can lead to lower external inputs, efficient crop nutrient use and yield improvements (Scalise et al 2015; Dahmardeh and Hodiani 2016; Jouzi et al 2017). Intercropping with legumes can enhance soil fertility by increasing soil nitrogen (N) through the N-fixing ability of rhizobacteria, thereby allowing more fixedN to remain in the upper soil layers and be plant available (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al 2009a; Chapagain and Riseman 2014). The nutrient use efficiency can be improved and fertilizer requirements of the main crops can be reduced compared with regular non-intercropped crop stands (Ghosh et al 2009; Rostaei et al 2014). The nutrient use efficiency can be improved and fertilizer requirements of the main crops can be reduced compared with regular non-intercropped crop stands (Ghosh et al 2009; Rostaei et al 2014). Sahota and Malhi (2012) showed that the LER from barley ? pea intercropping was 1.3 as compared to sole crop of barley
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