Intercropping System Research Articles

SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICS OF INTERCROPPING Maize WITH SUGARCANE

To investigate the effects of intercropping of maize with sugarcane on cane development, outturn, and overall economic return, field experiments were carried out during the cropping year 2021–22 in two different locations: Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), Ishwardi, Pabna and the Regional Sugarcrop Research Station (RSRS), Thakurgaon, Bangladesh. There were nine treatments namely T1 : Single row sugarcane only (SS), T2 : SS+ Maize (During sett placement), T3 : SS+ Maize (7 days after sett placement), T4 : SS+ Maize (14 days after sett placement), T5 : SS+ Maize (21 days after sett placement), T6 : SS+ Maize (28 days after sett placement), T7 : SS+ Maize (35 days after sett placement), T8 : SS+ Maize (42 days after sett placement), T9 : Maize (M) only. Sugarcane variety “Isd 39” and maize variety “Super 92” were used in this experiment as experimental materials. Results indicated that T7 treatment was superior in terms of germination (56.56% at BSRI and 57.33% at Thakurgaon). The treatments T1 (174.33×103 ha-1 and 184.00×103 ha-1) and T7 (162.67×103 ha-1 and 168.00×103 ha-1) consistently exhibited superior tiller production and millable cane yield at both the locations. However, T1 generally resulted in higher cane yield, while T7 demonstrated higher SEY (108.25 t ha-1 at BSRI and 114.79 t ha-1 at Thakurgaon), LER (1.56 at BSRI and 1.52 at Thakurgaon), ATER (1.20 at BSRI and 1.16 at Thakurgaon), gross monetary value (487133 BDT ha-1 at BSRI and 516533 BDTha-1at Thakurgaon), and monetary advantage index (175178 at BSRI and 177542 at Thakurgaon) compared to other treatments. Treatment T2 also showed competitive SEY (105.52 t ha-1 at BSRI and 108.69 t ha-1 at Thakurgaon), LER (1.64 at BSRI and 1.54 at Thakurgaon), ATER (1.13 at BSRI and 1.07 at Thakurgaon), gross monetary value (474867 BDT ha-1at BSRI and 489100 BDT ha-1at Thakurgaon), and monetary advantage index (184942 at BSRI and 173134 at Thakurgaon), indicating its effectiveness in enhancing sugarcane production. Therefore, it maize planted 35 days after sugarcane sett placement (T7 ) or during sugarcane sett placement (T2 ), profitable intercropping system.

Studies on Soil Health Condition as influenced by Sole and Intercropping System of Maize and Pulses under Rainfed Conditions

Studies on Soil Health Condition as influenced by Sole and Intercropping System of Maize and Pulses under Rainfed Conditions

A review of intercropping systems in Western Canada

A review of intercropping systems in Western Canada

Border row effects improved the spatial distributions of maize and peanut roots in an intercropping system, associated with improved yield.

Border row effects impact the ecosystem functions of intercropping systems, with high direct interactions between neighboring row crops in light, water, and nutrients. However, previous studies have mostly focused on aboveground, whereas the effects of intercropping on the spatial distribution of the root system are poorly understood. Field experiments and planting box experiments were combined to explore the yield, dry matter accumulation, and spatial distribution of root morphological indexes, such as root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD), specific root length (SRL), and root diameter (RD), of maize and peanut and interspecific interactions at different soil depths in an intercropping system. In the field experiments, the yield of intercropped maize significantly increased by 33.45%; however, the yield of intercropped peanut significantly decreased by 13.40%. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of the maize-peanut intercropping system was greater than 1, and the advantage of intercropping was significant. Maize was highly competitive (A = 0.94, CR=1.54), and the yield advantage is mainly attributed to maize. Intercropped maize had higher RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole maize, and intercropped peanut had lower RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole peanut. In the interspecific interaction zone, the increase in RLD, RSAD, SRL, and RD of intercropped maize was greater than that of intercropped peanut, and maize showed greater root morphological plasticity than peanut. A random forest model determined that RSAD significantly impacted yield at 15-60 cm, while SRL had a significant impact at 30-60 cm. Structural equation modeling revealed that root morphology indicators had a greater effect on yield at 30-45 cm, with interactions between indicators being more pronounced at this depth. These results show that border-row effects mediate the plasticity of root morphology, which could enhance resource use and increase productivity. Therefore, selecting optimal intercropping species and developing sustainable intercropping production systems is of great significance.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) as an emerging companion crop in annual cropping systems: A systematic review

Sustainable intensification is considered an efficient alternative to conventional agriculture to feed a growing population while maintaining and benefitting the environment. Intercropping is one of the most studied practices to obtain production gains and other ecosystem services. Most intercrops involve legumes and cereals, but other species combinations should be explored to further increase the diversity of intercropping systems. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.; Polygonaceae) is an emerging minor crop which is gaining attention in alternative intercropping systems.This review provides a comprehensive view of the state of the art on the role of buckwheat as a companion crop in arable cropping systems. Despite buckwheat being well-known for its weed-suppressive ability, intercropping using buckwheat for weed control has received little attention. Few crops have so far been considered in relation to the introduction of buckwheat in annual cropping systems. This review uncovers a largely untapped research field involving buckwheat. The research perspectives are multiple as buckwheat consumption is increasing and its attractive flower resources and rapid growth offer the provision of several agro-ecosystem services that directly and indirectly benefit crop yield stability.

Improving Soil Quality and Yield of Intercropping-System Crops in a Dry Land Area through Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Application Frequency

The future of agriculture is prone to choose technology that can enhance the quality of the resources to support the sustainability of food production. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a reliable technology for future agriculture as it is environment-friendly, and able to optimize resource utilization and decrease external input. This research aimed to analyze the effect of PGPR (Pseudomonas fluorescens + Bacillus polymyxa) application frequency on chemical soil properties, a yield of an intercropping system in dry land, the in-between correlation of the parameters, and to determine the best PGPR application frequency. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in this research to put the treatment in the experimental unit properly. The treatments consisted of i) one-time application of PGPR at the planting time, ii) twice application of PGPR at the planting time and 15 Days After Planting (DAP), iii) three times application of PGPR at the planting time, 15 DAP and 30 DAP, iv) without application of PGPR as control. The results showed that PGPR application frequency improved chemical soil properties, yield, and total by-products as livestock feed. The activity of soil enzymes, nitrogenase, and phosphatase, was enhanced compared to the control. The application of PGPR in dryland areas is recommended to maintain soil fertility and support sustainable intercropping crop production. Further studies are needed to conduct mixed farming between agriculture, animal husbandry, clean energy (biogas), and organic fertilizer (residue from the biogas digester).

Species interactions and bacterial inoculation enhance plant growth and shape rhizosphere bacterial community structure in faba bean – wheat intercropping under water and P limitations

Grain legumes / cereals intercropping systems with microbial inoculants, hold promise for improving crop productivity under stressful conditions. However, the tripartite interaction involving intercropping system, associated microbiota and stress combining water deficit and low phosphorus (P) availability remains understudied. This study evaluated the impact of three bacterial consortia (C4, C6, and Cref containing Rhizobium and PSB strains) including single Rhizobium (Rhizobium laguerreae) on the agro-physiological performance of wheat (Triticum durum) and faba bean (Vicia faba) grown as intercrops or sole-crops under P and water deficient conditions. Inoculation, especially with C6, significantly improved shoot and root biomasses of both wheat (up to 66 and 81 %) and faba bean (up to 54 and 266 %) intercrops compared to single Rhizobium inoculation and control treatments. Intercropping generally outperformed sole-cropping in above-ground physiology, root morphological traits, shoot and root P content, with a notable effect in response to C6 exhibiting low microbial biomass P. Changes in bacterial community structure were primarily driven by cropping pattern and water regime rather than bacterial inoculation. Intercropping maintained bacterial diversity but shifted community structure, favoring Proteobacteria. Overall, inoculating intercropped wheat and faba bean with Rhizobium-containing consortia induced beneficial below-ground interspecies interactions under water and P-limiting conditions.

Maize edible-legumes intercropping systems for enhancing agrobiodiversity and belowground ecosystem services

Intensification of staple crops through conventional agricultural practices with chemical synthetic inputs has yielded positive outcomes in food security but with negative environmental impacts. Ecological intensification using cropping systems such as maize edible-legume intercropping (MLI) systems has the potential to enhance soil health, agrobiodiversity and significantly influence crop productivity. However, mechanisms underlying enhancement of biological soil health have not been well studied. This study investigated the shifts in rhizospheric soil and maize-root microbiomes and associated soil physico-chemical parameters in MLI systems of smallholder farms in comparison to maize-monoculture cropping systems (MMC). Maize-root and rhizospheric soil samples were collected from twenty-five farms each conditioned by MLI and MMC systems in eastern Kenya. Soil characteristics were assessed using Black oxidation and Walkley methods. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was employed to analyze fungal and bacterial communities, predicting their functional roles and diversity. The different MLI systems significantly impacted soil and maize-root microbial communities, resulting in distinct microbe sets. Specific fungal and bacterial genera and species were mainly influenced and enriched in the MLI systems (e.g., Bionectria solani, Sarocladium zeae, Fusarium algeriense, and Acremonium persicinum for fungi, and Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Enterobacter roggenkampii, Pantoea dispersa and Mitsuaria chitosanitabida for bacteria), which contribute to nutrient solubilization, decomposition, carbon utilization, plant protection, bio-insecticides/fertilizer production, and nitrogen fixation. Conversely, the MMC systems enriched phytopathogenic microbial species like Sphingomonas leidyi and Alternaria argroxiphii. Each MLI system exhibited a unique composition of fungal and bacterial communities that shape belowground biodiversity, notably affecting soil attributes, plant well-being, disease control, and agroecological services. Indeed, soil physico-chemical properties, including pH, nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium were enriched in MLI compared to MMC cropping systems. Thus, diversification of agroecosystems with MLI systems enhances soil properties and shifts rhizosphere and maize-root microbiome in favor of ecologically important microbial communities.

Allelopathic Potential of Some Dominating Weeds Associated with Winter Crops

Experiments were conducted to investigate the allelopathic potential of some dominating weeds (Coronopus didymus L., Trianthema portulacastrum L., Malvastrum coromandelianum L., Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. and Chenopodium album L.) on winter crops i.e., pea (Pisum sativum L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The effects of different concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 2%) of weeds’ extracts were recorded using filter paper method. The extracts of Malvastrum coromandelianum and Cirsium vulgare significantly reduced the seed germination, hypocotyl and radicle growth of spinach. Hypocotyl and radicle growth of barley was highly inhibited under the influence of the extracts of Chenopodium album while the same species stimulated the seedling growth and germination of spinach at its all concentrations. The effects were found to be concentration dependent. The results have indicated that M. coromandelianum and C. vulgare are not suitable near other crops due to their adverse effects on crops. It was concluded that these species are not suitable in an intercropping system. Moreover, their plantation should be carefully assessed with in the crop field.

Hyperaccumulators' Diversity Enhances Cd-Contaminated Soil Restoration and Reduces Rice Cd Uptake under an Intercropping System.

Cd accumulation in rice-cultivated soils across China is a major problem that needs to be tackled. A plot experiment was carried out using heavy metal (HM) hyperaccumulators Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. intercropped with low-accumulation rice to obtain safe edible rice while reducing the soil Cd concentration. It was found that Cd concentration in soil was decreased by 7.43 and 2.86% under rice intercropped with Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., respectively, compared to single cropped rice. In addition, enhanced effects were noted under the combination of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt, and rice in which a 20.35% decrease in soil Cd content was recorded compared to single-cultivated rice soil. In addition, the available Cd in soil was reduced by 4.00 and 5.00% under rice/Amaranthus and rice/Perilla, respectively, and 12.00% under rice/Amaranthus/Perilla mixed culture. Moreover, the concentration of Cd in various parts of rice was under permissible limits. However, rice biomass was decreased by the presence of hyperaccumulators. This study suggests that combining HM hyperaccumulator plants and low-accumulation rice provides efficient Cd extraction results and could be a crucial option for restoring Cd-contaminated soil without reducing rice production.

Maize and legume intercropping enhanced crop growth and soil carbon and nutrient cycling through regulating soil enzyme activities

Maize intercropped with leguminous green manure (LGM) has been proven as a sustainable plantation practice for enhancing crop yield and soil fertility. However, a comprehensive understanding of how intercropped legumes coordinate the above- and below-ground performance during maize growth under low to high N application remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biological C and N input on soil fertility and maize growth by regulating soil enzyme activities in maize/LGM intercropping systems. A three-year field trial was conducted in northwestern China, where maize was intercropped with two LGMs, namely common vetch and pea, under no N (N0, 0 kg ha−1) and conventional N (N330, 330 kg ha−1) applications. The grain yield of intercropped maize ranged from 10.54 to 11.08 t ha−1, representing a significant increase of 6.6–12.1 % compared to monoculture maize in the N0 treatment. Nitrogen application substantially increased maize grain yield by 39.2–52.0 % across cropping systems relative to the N0 treatments, while minor differences were observed in maize yield between cropping systems in the N330 treatments. Compared with monoculture maize, intercropped with LGMs increased C input by 16.7–79.2 % at maize V9 stage and 81.1–140.3 % at the R6 stage. The biological N fixation of intercropped LGMs was 62.7–89.5 kg ha−1 and 8.0–12.8 kg ha−1 in the N0 and N330 treatments, respectively. Biological C and N input greatly facilitated soil enzyme activities and the associated nutrient cycling, consequently improving soil fertility. Soil organic matter and total N in the intercropping systems significantly increased by 4.4–14.3 % relative to monoculture across maize growth stages, irrespective of N levels. Furthermore, increased soil fertility was closely associated with nutrient stoichiometry, which in turn facilitated maize nutrient uptake and shoot recovery growth in the intercropping systems. Overall, these findings highlight that increased biological C and N input to belowground enhances soil C and nutrient cycling by regulating the involved enzyme activities, which in turn improves maize nutrient uptake and growth, forming a coordinated loop of C and nutrient flow in the maize and legume intercropping systems. Maize intercropped with LGMs is a sustainable practice that improves soil fertility and promotes maize growth by augmenting biological C and N input.

Pre-extension demonstration of inter-cropping of improved forages with food and cash crops at Semen Bench Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia

Pre-extension demonstration study was conducted in the North Bench district, Bench Sheko Zone, South-western Region, Ethiopia, in 2020/2021 main cropping season. The objective of the study was to demonstrate fodder production from improved forage legumes intercropped in food and cash crops and to evaluate the nutritional quality and compatibility of forage legumes. Three forage legumes, namely lablab, vetch, and cowpea, intercropped in maize, whereas alfalfa and desmodium intercropped in coffee. The demonstration was laid out in a randomized complete block design with ten replications on a farmer’s farm field with a participatory approach. The legumes were intercropped in maize three weeks after maize planting. The results revealed that maize plant height, maize grain yield, and maize stover biomass yields were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatments. However, significantly higher legume biomass yield and total biomass yield were obtained from maize-lablab-based intercropping as compared to maize-vetch and maize-cowpea-based intercropping systems. Similarly, the maize-lablab-based intercropping system recorded a significantly (p < 0.05) higher crude protein yield. The lower legume biomass yields were obtained from desmodium and alfalfa intercropped in coffee. Participant farmers were also very interested in forage production from maize-lablab-based intercropping systems as compared to maize-vetch, maize-cow pea, desmodium-coffee, and alfalfa-coffee-based intercropping systems. Therefore, farmers are recommended to intercrop lablab in maize to overcome the animal feed shortage in the study area.

Soil microbial community and chemical properties response to blueberry–soybean intercropping system

Soil microbial community and chemical properties response to blueberry–soybean intercropping system

Performance Evaluation of Cocoyam-based Intercropping Systems to Different Rates of Fertilizers in Obio Akpa, South Eastern Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm, Akwa Ibom State University Obio Akpa Campus during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons to assess the performance of cocoyam-based intercropping systems to different rates of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was a split-plot factorial laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments were six (6) rates of fertilizers (0kg/ha, NPK 200kg/ha, NPK 400kg/ha, Poultry Manure (PM) 2.5t/ha, PM 5.0t/ha, Mixture – NPK 200kg/ha + PM 2.5t/ha) and six (6) crop mixtures (Sole Cocoyam, Sole Melon, Sole Maize, Cocoyam + Maize, Cocoyam + Melon and Cocoyam + Melon + Maize) arranged in split plot. Result indicated significant differences (P< 0.05) among the various crop mixtures and fertilizer levels at 2, 4, 6 Months after planting (MAP) on the plant height, stem girth of cocoyam, plant height of maize and vine length of melon. PM 2.5t/ha favoured leaf Area, stem girth of cocoyam and maize with crop mixtures of cocoyam + maize, cocoyam + melon, cocoyam + melon + maize in both cropping seasons. NPK 200kg/ha and NPK400kg/ha gave higher values of cocoyam and maize height whereas PM 2.5t/ha recorded higher vine length of melon in sole cropping. PM 5.0t/ha gave higher values of corm yield, cormels yield, weight of cormels, number of cormels and length of cormels in sole cocoyam. For cocoyam + melon, higher values of corm yield, weight of corms, weight of cormels, number of cormels were obtained with PM 5.0t/ha. For cocoyam + maize, higher values of corm and cormel yields were obtained with Poultry Manure5.0t/ha and NPK400kg/ha respectively. The PM rate of 5.0 t/ha gave higher values of corm yield, weight of corm, weight of cormels and number of cormels with cocoyam + melon + maize in both seasons. For maize, PM 2.5t/ha gave higher values of grain yield with cocoyam + maize, cocoyam + melon + maize crop mixtures. For melon, PM 5.0t/ha and NPK 400kg/ha gave higher values with cocoyam + melon and cocoyam + Melon + maize respectively.

Relay strip intercropping of wheat and cotton under limited water conditions

AbstractWheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) relay strip intercropping involves cultivating wheat sown in autumn and cotton sown in spring, allowing the two crops to grow together for ∼2 months. Despite its prevalence in cotton‐growing regions globally, this agricultural practice remains untapped in Turkey, where the emphasis on resource use efficiency and the competition between staple and cash crops are paramount. To address this, we conducted a study comparing three cropping systems under both well‐watered and limited water conditions: sole wheat with a row spacing of 13.5 cm, sole cotton with a row spacing of 70 cm, and an intercropping system consisting of four rows of wheat and two rows of cotton, with row spacings of 13.5 cm and 40.5 cm, respectively. In intercropped wheat and cotton, the relative wheat yield was 0.68, while the relative cotton yield was 0.73, resulting in a combined relative yield of 1.41 when compared to monoculture. The land equivalent ratio (1.44) and area time equivalent ratio (1.08) consistently exceeded 1.0, particularly under limited watering conditions and concurrent heat stress observed in the second year of the experiment. Our findings indicate that wheat–cotton relay intercropping holds significant potential as a highly effective approach to enhance the production of both cotton and wheat in Turkey, particularly in stressful conditions such as limited water availability.

Pear (Pyrus communis)-based agroecosystem improves soil nutrient dynamics, microbial biomass, enzymatic activity, farm productivity and profitability

North-western Indian farmers are increasingly showing interest in adopting horticulture-based systems to enhance their farm productivity with anticipated profits. So, there is a need for systematic evaluation of different pear-based agroecosystems with respect to its productivity, profitability, soil health, and biodiversity to tackle the problems of modern agriculture (food security, declining soil health, and sustainability). Therefore, an intercropping experiment comprising 11 treatments viz. [T1: Pear (Pyrus communis) + Pea (Pisum sativum), T2: Pear + Radish (Raphanus sativa), T3: Pear + Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), T4: Pear + Kasuri fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata), T5: Pear + fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), T6: Pear + Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), T7: Pear + Green onion (Allium fistolosum), T8: Pear + Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis), T9: Pear + Toria (Brassica rapa), T10: Pear + Knol khol (Brassica oleraceae var. gongylodes) and T11: Pear monoculture] were laid out in randomized block design with three replications at farmer's field, Tarn Taran district, Punjab, India during 2021–22 and 2022–23. The results showed that the lesser values of bulk density (1.30 g/cm3) and higher water holding capacity (42.52%) were observed in the Pear + kasuri fenugreek intercropping system. All the legumes-based intercropping systems viz. Pear + kasuri fenugreek, Pear + fenugreek, and Pear + pea were significantly efficient in bringing enhancements to the chemical properties of the orchard's soil. Under various pear-based intercropping systems, different microbial populations (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and diazotrophs) were significantly higher in legume-based intercropping systems of Pear + kasuri fenugreek, Pear + fenugreek, and Pear + pea and resulting in more enzymatic activity in the soil in terms of dehydrogenase (63.02, 61.88, and 60.48 µg TPF/g of soil/hour, respectively), alkaline phosphatase (10.05, 9.92, and 9.75 µg PNP/g of soil/hour, respectively) and urease (17.84, 17.18, 17.00 µg /g of soil/hour, respectively). The intercropping system of Pear + kasuri fenugreek significantly increased microbial biomass carbon (42.20%) and microbial biomass nitrogen (65.02%) over Pear monoculture. The correlation analysis of various soil's physiochemical and biological parameters indicated significant associations among themselves at p = 0.01, 0.05. The intercropping system of Pear + kasuri fenugreek also produced significantly higher system productivity in early (122.20 kg/ha/day in 2021–22 and 123.86 kg/ha/day in 2022–23) and main season (119.08 kg/ha/day in 2021–22 and 121.60 kg/ha/day in 2022–23) due to significantly higher pear yield (340.02 q/ha in 2021–22 and 341.89 q/ha in 2022–23) and higher pear equivalent yield (105.99 in early season, 94.64 q/ha in main season of 2021–22 & 110.20 in early season, 101.94 q/ha in main season of 2022–23) observed by kasuri fenugreek, resulting in higher net returns, BC ratio and economic efficiency in both seasons during both years over other intercropping systems.

Effect of intercropping and biochar amendments on lead removal capacity by Corchorus olitorius and Zea mays.

Intercropping is a sustainable strategy recognized for boosting crop production and mitigating heavy metal toxicity in contaminated soils. This study investigates the effects of biochar amendments on Pb-contaminated soil, utilizing monocropping and intercropping techniques with C. olitorius and Z. mays. The research assesses Pb removal capacity, nutrient uptake, antioxidant enzymes, and soil Pb fractionation. In monocropping, the phytoremediation ratio for C. olitorius increased from 16.67 to 27.33%, while in intercropping, it rose from 19.00 to 28.33% with biochar amendments. Similarly, Z. mays exhibited an increased phytoremediation ratio from 53.33 to 74.67% in monocropping and from 63.00 to 78.67% in intercropping with biochar amendments. Intercropping significantly increased the peroxidase (POD) activity in Z. mays roots by 22.53%, and there were notable increases in shoot POD of C. olitorius (11.54%) and Z. mays (16.20%) with biochar application. CAT showed consistent improvements, increasing by 37.52% in C. olitorius roots and 74.49% in Z. mays roots with biochar. Biochar amendments significantly increased N content in soil under sole cropping of Z. mays and intercropping systems. In contrast, Cu content increased by 56.34%, 59.05%, and 79.80% in monocropping (C. olitorius and Z. mays) and intercropping systems, respectively. This suggests that biochar enhances nutrient availability, improving phytoremediation efficacy in Pb-contaminated soil. Phyto availability of trace metals (Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe) exhibited higher levels with biochar amendments than those without. The findings indicate that intercropping and biochar amendments elevate antioxidant enzyme levels, reducing reactive oxygen species and mitigating Pb toxicity effects. This approach improves phytoremediation efficiency and holds promise for soil pollution remediation while enhancing nutrient content and crop quality in Pb-contaminated soil.

Effect of Intercropping Spinach and Radish on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays)

Background: Intercropping increases crop yield per unit area by intensifying the use of land. Cultivation of maize with leafy vegetables provides better use of land and other environmental resources, which results in higher economic yield. The current investigation aimed to study the effect of maize-spinach and maize-radish intercropping on growth and yield of maize under rainfed condition of Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during 2021 in randomized block design consisting of 3 treatments i.e. T1- Sole Maize, T2- Maize + spinach and T3- Maize + radish with four replications. Observations on growth and yield parameters and yield of maize were recorded on harvesting of the crop. The results were analysed using standard statistical procedures of ANOVA. Result: In maize + spinach and maize + radish intercropping, plant height (176.3 cm), numbers of leaves (15.49) and leaf area (5407 cm2 plant-1) were significantly greater in sole maize than the intercropping system. On the other hand, the yield parameters as well as yield of maize was higher in maize + radish intercropping as compared to maize + spinach and sole maize system. The grain yield of maize under maize + radish intercropping was 3066.25 kg ha-1. The B:C (1.92) was significantly higher in intercrops than the sole maize crop. From this study, it can be concluded that the intercrops are agronomically and economically viable than sole cropping. The intercropping of maize with radish would be profitable due to higher yield of maize as well as B:C (2 rows of maize and 2 rows of soybean) under farmer’s field condition of Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Effects of Different Crop Intercropping on the Growth, Root System, and Yield of Tiger Nuts

Intercropping is a vital cropping system that can create a conducive growth environment for crops and enhance land productivity. Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.) have high oil content and are adaptable to various soil types, making them a promising new oil crop with significant development potential. This study evaluated the plant height, leaf area, tiller numbers, biomass, land equivalent ratio (LER), and root morphological characteristics of tiger nuts. The agronomic traits and root distribution of tiger nuts and other crops were further investigated to achieve the goal of high yield for tiger nuts. Seven intercropping systems were implemented in the experiment: maize–tiger nut intercropping (MT), soybean–tiger nut intercropping (ST), cotton–tiger nut intercropping (CT), monoculture tiger nut (T), monoculture maize (M), monoculture soybean (S), and monoculture cotton (C). The results indicated that under different planting systems, the agronomic traits of tiger nuts in MT and ST modes were superior, with plant height and tiller numbers increasing by 7.6% to 11.6%. However, the plant height and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values in CT mode were slightly lower than in T mode. Additionally, intercropping reduced the leaf area by 6.2% to 37.9%. Root development was more pronounced in intercropping modes, with the ST mode showing the most significant improvement, increasing the 0–20 cm root length density (RLD) by 12.2% to 45.7%. Therefore, each of the three intercropping modes demonstrated distinct advantages. The LER of the intercropping systems ranged from 1.10 to 1.24, enhancing land utilization, with tiger nuts being the dominant species. Compared to monoculture, the ST mode exhibited the best overall effect. Understanding the impact of different planting systems on tiger nuts provides valuable insights for developing tiger nut cultivation in Xinjiang.

Exploring the Impact of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Ktze.)/Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. Intercropping on Soil Health and Microbial Communities

Intercropping, a well-established agroecological technique designed to bolster ecological stability, has been shown to have a significant impact on soil health. However, the specific effects of tea/Trachelospermum jasminoides intercropping on the physicochemical properties and functional microbial community structure in practical cultivation have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we utilized high-throughput sequencing technology on the 16S/ITS rDNA genes to assess the impact of tea intercropping with T. jasminoides on the composition, diversity, and potential functions of the soil microbial community in tea gardens. The results indicated that the tea/T. jasminoides intercropping system significantly increased pH levels, soil organic matter, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and enzyme activity, ultimately augmenting soil nutrient levels. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the bacterial co-occurrence network and topological structure portrayed a more intricate and interconnected soil bacterial community in tea gardens. Remarkably, the abundance of beneficial genera, including Burkholderia, Mesorhizobium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma, underwent a substantial increase, whereas the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Curvularia experienced a marked decline. Functional predictions also indicated a notable enhancement in the abundance of microorganisms associated with nitrogen and carbon cycling processes. In summary, the intercropping of tea and T. jasminoides holds the potential to enrich soil nutrient content, reshape the microbial community structure, bolster the abundance of functional microorganisms, and mitigate the prevalence of pathogenic fungi. Consequently, this intercropping system offers a promising solution for sustainable tea garden management, overcoming the limitations of traditional cultivation methods and providing valuable insights for sustainable agriculture practices.