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Pea-based intercrops provide nitrogen (N) benefits and often improve land productivity through functional diversification. However, their impact on grain quality and soil health remains unclear. We conducted a 2-year (2021 and 2022) intercrop study at Swift Current and Melfort, Saskatchewan, assessing productivity, grain quality, and soil water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) and water-extractable dissolved N (WEDN). Nine treatments included pea–oat (PO) intercrops with three N rates (0, 1/4, and 1/2 of full recommended N rate for oat monocrop), pea–canola (PC) intercrops with three N rates (0, 1/4, and 1/2 of full recommended N rate for canola monocrop), and three monocrops (pea, oat, and canola). Pea monocrop received no N fertilizer, while oat and canola monocrops received the full recommended N rate. In intercrops, pea was seeded at 2/3 and the companion crop at 1/2 of their recommended rates. PO intercrops consistently produced higher energy-based yields than PC intercrops. Intercrops outperformed monocrops at Melfort but not at Swift Current. Intercropping reduced canola protein content by 6–9% and oat protein content by 6–8%, compared to monocrops. PO intercrops increased WEOC level by 5%–9% compared to monocrops. PC intercrops resulted in 10% higher WEDN than PO intercrops, attributed to a higher pea plant stand in PC. Nitrogen fertilizer rates in intercrops did not affect yields or soil labile C and N. The results showed that applying N fertilizers to pea-based intercrops did not improve productivity, but seeding rate ratio in intercrops should be finetuned based on crop competitiveness to improve overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry plays a key role in the Indian economy in terms of tangible and intangible benefits. Agroforestry can simultaneously satisfy three important objectives, namely, protecting the ecosystems, producing a high-level output of economic goods, and increasing income and basic needs of the rural population, in addition to maintaining the resource base. In the Jammu subtropics, many fruit trees are grown with grasses or as the sole crop. There is not much awareness among farmers about the benefits of agroforestry. To overcome this, we conducted a field trial at the experimental farm of the Division of Agroforestry, Chatha, with the aim of exploring the possibility of growing different wheat varieties as an intercrop under the canopy of harad (Terminalia chebula Retz.) trees planted at a spacing of 5 × 4 m2. Three wheat varieties, namely, JAUW-598, WH-1080, and RSP-561, were grown under the Terminalia chebula trees, and growth and yield parameters were recorded at two distances from the base of the tree (0–1 m and 1–2 m). This study investigates the impact of distance from Terminalia chebula (harad) trees on the growth and yield of different wheat varieties in the agroclimatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. The primary objective was to determine the optimal spacing that minimizes competition for resources between the trees and crops, thereby enhancing wheat productivity. By evaluating key growth parameters and yield at varying distances from the tree base, this research aims to provide actionable insights for optimizing intercropping systems in the region. The growth and yield of varieties were significantly reduced under shade as compared to sole cropping. Maximum spike length (13.91 cm), tillers/plant (7.36), grains/spike (33.62), and grain yield (42.46 qha−1) were recorded in the variety RSP-561 grown in the open conditions. Overall, RSP-561 performed better among all the other varieties with a yield reduction of 47.83 and 12.15% at a distance of 0–1 m and 1–2 m, respectively, under shade as compared to the open conditions. All wheat varieties performed better at a distance of 1–2 m away from the tree base as the amount of shade/competition is less compared to a distance of 0–1 m from the tree base. The study concluded that wheat can be successfully grown at a distance of 1–2 m from the tree base to attain an additional income from the Terminalia chebula orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol production from cereal straw is a sustainable alternative to meet the current energy demand, but its low nitrogen (N) content and high carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio are problematic during bioethanol processing. Intercropping cereals with legumes may increase the N content and reduce the C/N ratio in the harvested straw biomass. In order to investigate the combined production of food, feed, and suitable feedstock (low C/N ratio) for lignocellulosic bioethanol production, a field experiment on cereal-legume intercropping was carried out in southern Sweden. In the experiment, autumn-sown cereals (wheat, triticale, and rye) were grown as monocrops with two different N fertilization levels (60 and 120 kg N ha−1) or intercropped with autumn-sown or spring-sown (undersown) clover-grass, autumn-sown or spring-sown (undersown) alfalfa, or autumn-sown faba bean. Total grain dry matter yield, cereal grain protein content, straw dry matter yield, and straw biomass C/N ratio were estimated. The results showed that the intercrops produced more straw biomass and had a lower C/N ratio, but produced less grain, than cereal monocrops. Among the cereals, rye showed significantly higher grain and straw yields, but lower grain protein content, in all treatments. Among the intercrop treatments, cereal with spring-sown clover-grass produced higher grain and straw yields and had a significantly lower C/N ratio (38:1) than the other treatments. Thus, cereal with spring-sown (undersown) clover-grass is a promising cropping system for lignocellulosic bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the impact of spreading cover crops and different tillage methods on specific physical and water retention properties of Luvisol. The experiment analysed the influence of two factors on the tested properties. The first-order factor was the sowing of cover crops; three levels were analysed in the experiment: without cover crop, field pea sown after the wheat harvest, and white mustard sown after the wheat harvest. The second-order factor was the tillage method for intercrop seeding and spring wheat; four levels were analysed: conventional tillage, strip-till, reduced tillage, and no-till. After three years of the field experiment, four composite bulk samples with disturbed structure and eight core samples (100 cm3) with undisturbed structure were taken from the humus horizon (15 cm) of each treatment. The collected soil samples were used to analyse the total carbon content, basic physical properties, and water retention properties. The use of the cover crops positively influenced the soil properties, whereas the simplified cultivation had a negative effect. The impact of sowing the cover crops was greater than that of the tillage method. Despite the statistical significance of the impact of the tested factors, their practical impact seems to be negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean region is experiencing severe droughts and unprecedented high temperatures. In terms of salinity, about 18 million ha of land, or 25% of the total irrigated area in the Mediterranean, is salt affected. The use of halophytes as intercropping species to mitigate the effects of salt stress is attractive. Halophytes have a great capacity to maintain their productivity in this extreme environment, thus supporting climate-appropriate agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity of Salicornia europaea L. subsp. ramosissima (glasswort) under field conditions and high soil salinity, grown as a sole crop (monocropping) and as a companion crop (intercropping) with Beta vulgaris L. subsp. cicla (Swiss chard) in a 1:1 cropping pattern. The field trials were conducted in the coastal wetland "King's Lagoon", a private nature reserve in the Apulia/Puglia region (southern Italy), during two consecutive spring–summer seasons in 2023 and 2024 and under different management conditions of irrigation and fertilization. These were performed to test for possible interaction effects. The results showed that both glasswort and chard can be grown sustainably under slightly saline conditions (ECe range 4–8 dS m−1). In contrast, strongly saline conditions (ECe > 16 dS m−1) were prohibitive for chard, both as a sole crop and as an intercrop, but were largely beneficial for glasswort. Swiss chard can benefit from intercropping with glasswort when soil salinity is still tolerable (6.9 dS m−1), showing an LER (Land Equivalent Ratio) ≥ 1.19. Meanwhile, glasswort did not significantly improve the growth of the companion crop (Swiss chard) when the soil was considerably saline (16.6 dS m−1). Higher LER values were observed when the contribution of chard to the intercrop performance was significantly greater than that of glasswort, i.e., under slightly saline conditions. This means that glasswort can have a significant positive effect on chard growth and productivity as long as soil is still moderately saline. Glasswort can therefore be considered a valuable model crop in extreme environments. The integration of glasswort (possibly together with other local halophytes) into diversified cropping systems on saline marginal soils is a promising sustainable agricultural practice in environmentally fragile areas such as wetlands, swamps, brackish areas, and marshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andisols are the least extensive soil order, accounting for less than 1% of Earth´s surface. Chile occupies 50% of the country´s land area for cereal production and is of great importance to agriculture. However, few studies have investigated the performance of cereal production under intercropping in P-deficient Andisols. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different Fabaceae species and wheat in an intercropping system on root morphology and soil properties. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block experimental design with a factorial arrangement with two different phosphorus levels and cropping systems (wheat monoculture, wheat/lupine, and wheat/chickpea intercropping). Bulk soil samples were collected from a field that had been cultivated with wheat. Chemical properties, basal soil respiration, and enzymatic activity were measured. The morphological characteristics of wheat roots and crop yield were also determined. According to the multiple linear regression model (p <.001), this relative yield was related to an increase in phosphatase activity and root biomass. Furthermore, the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of the wheat/lupine intercrop surpassed 1 in both seasons, indicating improved soil and nutrient utilization. In contrast, the wheat/chickpea intercrops had LER values lower than one during the second season. This confirmed that wheat/lupine intercropping is a recommended practice for enhancing ecosystem services and agricultural production in Andisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping has the potential to improve phosphorus (P) uptake and crop growth, but the potential benefits and relative contributions of root morphology and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization are largely unknown for the intercropping of rice and soybean under dry cultivation. Both field and pot experiments were conducted with dry-cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) grown alone or intercropped under two P levels. Two root separation modes between rice and soybean were employed to explore the contribution of AMF association and root plasticity on P uptake in intercrops. The results showed that rice/soybean intercropping resulted in a notable increase in the total biomass and yield compared to monoculture in the field. In the potted experiment, compared to the plastic root separation treatment (PS), the no root separation treatment (NS) increased the total biomass and P uptake by 9.4% and 19.9%, irrespective of the P levels. This was primarily attributable to a considerable enhancement in biomass and phosphorus uptake in soybean by 40.4% and 49.7%, which offset a slight decline in the rice of NS compared to PS by 26.8% and 18.0%, respectively. The results of random forest analysis indicate that the P uptake by the dominant species, soybean, was mainly contributed by root morphology, while rice was more dependent on AMF colonization in the intercropping system. Therefore, dry-cultivated rice/soybean intercropping enhances P uptake and productivity by leveraging complementary belowground strategies, with soybean benefiting primarily from root morphological adjustments and rice relying more on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter catch crops are promoted in the European Union under the Common Agricultural Policy to improve soil health and reduce nitrate leaching from agricultural fields. Currently, Member States often monitor farmers' adoption through on-site inspections for a limited subset of parcels. Because of its potential for region-wide coverage, this study investigates the potential of Sentinel-2 satellite time series to classify catch crops at the field level in Flanders (Belgium). The first objective was to classify catch crops and identify the optimal model and time series input for this task. The second objective was to apply these findings in a real-world scenario, aiming to provide reliable early-season predictions in a separate target year, testing early-season performance and temporal transferability. The following three models were compared: Random Forest (RF), Time Series Forest (TSF), and a One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN). The results showed that, with a limited field-based training dataset, RF produced the most robust results across different time series inputs, achieving a median F1-score of >88% on the best dataset. Additionally, the early-season performance of the models was delayed in the target year, reaching the F1-score threshold of 85% at least one month later in the season compared to the training years, with large timing differences between the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry intercropping is an effective way to optimize land use and ensure food security. However, the physiological mechanism by which the shading of dominant plants inhibits the yield of non-dominant plants in this mode remains to be investigated. A two-year location experiment of walnut-winter wheat intercrop combined with exogenous 6-benzyladenine (6-BA, the first synthetic cytokinin) treatment was conducted to reveal the mechanism of 6-BA in inhibiting wheat growth and yield formation under shade stress by measuring the photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant capacity, hormone homeostasis of wheat flag leaves and yield. The results showed that compared with far canopy area (FCA), antioxidant enzyme activity [e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD)], zeatin (ZT) and abscisic acid (ABA) content and photosynthesis of wheat flag leaves were significantly reduced in below canopy area (BCA) treatment during flowering and grain filling stages, thereby inhibiting wheat dry matter accumulation and yield formation. Exogenous 6-BA significantly increased hormone [i.e. indoleacetic acid (IAA), ZT and gibberellin (GA)] levels, antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthesis in flag leaves, thereby increasing dry matter and yield, especially in the FCA condition. Furthermore, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), activities of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase), ABA and ZT concentrations of flag leaves at flowering and filling stages had a significant contribution to yield formation under 6-BA and shade treatments. Overall, cytokinin regulates the inhibitory effects of shade stress on wheat photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity and hormone homeostasis to reduce wheat yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, coffee (Coffea spp.) is a major commodity in terms of production and trade. Although Uganda is seventh among the major producing countries, yields remain low at 500 kg/ha. Understanding the biophysical constraining factors is vital to inform efforts toward closing the yield gap. A diagnostic study was conducted in 150 coffee fields to determine the most yield‐limiting factors under varying rainfall thresholds, categorized as low ≤ 1100 mm/year, moderate ≥ 1100 to 1200 mm/year, and high ≥ 1200 mm/year. Robusta yield, soil parameters, pest and disease proportions, and tree and banana intercrop densities were measured under the thresholds. Parametric methods and the boundary line approach were used to analyze limiting factors and yield gaps. The results indicated that yields were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in moderate (960 ± 234 kg ha−1) than low (803 ± 188 kg ha−1) and high (713 ± 193 kg ha−1) rainfall thresholds. The proportion of pests and diseases doubled in high than low rainfall thresholds. Soil parameters and tree or banana intercrop were the main yield‐limiting factors. Magnesium limited yield in 47%, 26%, and 14% of coffee fields, causing 23%, 20%, and 21% yield gaps in high, moderate, and low thresholds, respectively. The maximum yield was 1492 kg ha−1; the explainable yield gap was 32%. A larger yield gap of 42%, 36%, and 32% was observed in high, moderate, and low rainfall thresholds. Therefore, long‐term integrated soil fertility and tree or banana intercrop management are suggested for high thresholds, focusing on pests and diseases in moderate and low rainfall thresholds. Additionally, frequent field monitoring is needed to determine the prevalence of pests and diseases at different times of the year and season. Hence, matching thresholds of rainfall variability to the Robusta coffee yield is critical for closing the yield gap and achieving Uganda's anticipated 20 million 60‐kg bags year−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine how to enhance the climate integrity of carbon credits from carbon farming practices. The key requirements for climate integrity include permanence, additionality, and measurement and verification. Farmers are typically willing to make carbon contracts for a finite time only in voluntary markets or with the government and receive carbon credits to sell as offsets. This contradicts the requirement of the permanence of carbon sequestered in soils. To solve this problem and to facilitate greater participation by farmers in carbon sequestration, we show how temporary contracts can be made to address the issue of permanence by using offset ratios. The notion of the offset ratio refers to the share of one emission unit that one unit of temporary sequestered carbon replaces. Thus, the offset ratio transforms temporary sequestration to permanent emissions reductions. We propose the use of a discounting method to calculate the offset ratio. The ratio varies with the carbon contract length, employed discount rate, and assumptions about the evolution of the soil carbon stock. We apply this approach to cultivating catch crops for carbon sequestration on a north‒south gradient in Finland, Denmark, and France. We show that the offset ratio approach works well for every selected country. Carbon farming contracts are profitable for farmers provided that revenue under the contract exceeds that in the baseline. Profitability is highly dependent on catch crop cost, annual increase in soil carbon, and the discount rate. We apply offset ratios to assess the climate integrity of some existing crediting programs and find that the discounting method yields a lower offset ratio in almost all cases yielding a lower number of credits than launched in these programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: An issue of pressing concern is the manganese contamination in farmland soils adjacent to industrial areas. To address this, intercropping hyperaccumulator plants with crops emerges as a sustainable approach to ensuring food security. This study aims to investigate the influence of intercropping Sedum alfredii with maize or soybean on their growth and the dynamics of manganese accumulation through field experiments. RESULTS: The results showed that compared with monoculture, the Sedum alfredii–maize intercropping system exhibited a land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.89, signifying a 71.13% augmentation in bioaccumulation amount (BCA). Additionally, it led to a significant reduction in manganese content in various organs, ranging from 17.05% to 25.50%. However, the Sedum alfredii–soybean intercropping system demonstrated a LER of 1.94, accompanied by a 66.11% increase in BCA, but did not significantly reduce the manganese content in the roots, stems, and pods of soybeans. Furthermore, manganese accumulation in maize and soybean grains was primarily attributed to the aboveground translocation of manganese. The intercropping effect on blocking manganese absorption of maize during growth and maturity is primarily attributed to the earlier manganese accumulation in intercropped maize by 2.63 to 4.35 days, and a reduction of 21.95% in the maximum manganese accumulation rate. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that manganese accumulation dynamics vary significantly depending on the crop family. Intercropping Sedum alfredii with maize enhances land‐use efficiency and reduces manganese uptake by crops, making it a promising strategy for remediating manganese‐contaminated farmland near industrial areas. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize monoculture, which predominates smallholder cropping systems in NE South Africa negatively affects soil quality. We assessed the effect of rainfed and irrigated maize-legumes intercropping systems (sole maize, sole chickpea, sole mungbean, maize+chickpea, maize+mungbean) on soil quality variables at Mankweng and Thohoyandou, South Africa in summer 2019/2020. Three soil samples were randomly collected from each plot at 0-20 cm depth after harvesting at both sites for the determination of bulk density (BD), aggregate stability (AS), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), phosphorus (P), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), soil active carbon (SAC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Intercropping affected pH, SOM, PMN, SOC, P, NH4+ and NO3-. Maize + chickpea (Thohoyandou and Mankweng) and maize + mungbean (Thohoyandou) exhibited higher NH4+ content than sole maize. NO3- was higher under intercropping compared to sole maize at both sites. Mungbean appeared to have greater effect on soil quality parameters than chickpea and intercropping was generally more beneficial under irrigated systems. Clearly, incorporation of legumes as intercrops in maize-based cropping systems may enhance soil productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) plays a crucial role in agriculture. PAR pertains to the specific range of solar radiation wavelengths (typically between 400 and 700 nm) utilized by plants for photosynthesis. The current investigation aimed to assess the distribution pattern of PAR in the understories of various coconut plantations. The study was conducted at substations affiliated with the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. For this study, seven age categories of CRIC 60 variety, planted in square spacing, were selected. The coconut square (8 m by 8 m spaced near 4 palms in a square arrangement) was subdivided into equal portions (9 × 9 of 1 m), and 81 data points were sampled within each coconut square. All the collected data were analyzed using R and Minitab statistical software. Simple regression analysis was employed to explore the relationships among PAR, age, and height of the coconut palms. Based on the spatial data, spatial distribution maps were generated for PAR distribution patterns across different age categories using inverse distance interpolation. Besides, PAR distribution patterns of the day and descriptive statistics of PAR were also studied. These analyses provided insights into determining the PAR value variation in the square planting systems in coconut plantations with the age of the palms. Furthermore, K-mean cluster analysis was developed further to understand the patterns and trends in the data. Notably, the 1–10, 10–25, and above 25 years age categories were identified as having distinct clusters. Age 1–10 and above 25 years had the highest, whereas 10–25 recorded the lowest light intensity. A comprehensive list of suitable intercrops was compiled by considering photosynthetically active radiation levels in various age groups of coconut plantations and the unique conditions found in different agro-climatic zones in Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An interspecific interaction is an important reason for the yield advantage of interspecific cropping compared with sole cropping, and the relative sowing time of species is an important factor affecting interspecific competitiveness. Our purpose was to explore the effects of different relative sowing times on the interspecific competition-recovery phenomenon in wheat and maize intercropping systems. Methods: Three planting methods (wheat/maize intercropping, wheat and maize sole cropping) and different relative sowing times of wheat were used to carry out field experiments over two years. Sequential harvest of subplots was performed between 3 and 6 times, and the biomass data were fitted to logistic growth model. Results: Delaying the sowing time of wheat reduced the wheat yield, biomass and nutrient acquisition and increased those of maize, but wheat still had an intercropping advantage during the co-growth period. At the same time, the nutrient acquisition of maize was still inhibited, but its recovery growth advanced. Changing the relative sowing time of wheat significantly changed the maximum instantaneous growth rates of wheat and maize. Delaying the relative sowing time of wheat significantly reduced its maximum instantaneous growth rate, while enhancing that of maize, leading to a balanced mutual benefit. Conclusions: Delaying the sowing time of wheat to the same sowing time as maize will change wheat/maize intercropping from asymmetrical interspecific facilitation to symmetrical interspecific facilitation. However, in this case, intercropped wheat still had an interspecific competitive advantage in the co-growth stage, and intercropped maize still underwent a competition-recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can increase the utilization rate of light and water and can also improve plant growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth and selenium (Se) content in seedlings of three genotypes of cherry tomato under intercropping while applying Se. The pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The monoculture of red, yellow and purple cherry tomato; among the three genotypes of cherry tomatoes, intercropping of two genotypes with each other, at the same time intercropping of three genotypes. These results show that the biomass increased under intercropping compared with monoculture. The chlorophyll b content of purple cherry tomato increased in different intercropping combinations. Furthermore, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of purple were increased by intercropping with red and purple cherry tomatoes. The soluble protein and soluble sugar contents in yellow and purple cherry tomato increased by 49.13% and 8.37%, respectively, under mutual intercropping. Similarly, soluble sugar increased in purple cherry tomato by intercropping with yellow and red. The activities of superoxide and peroxidase in red and yellow cherry tomato seedlings were higher in all intercropping combinations than in monoculture, whereas free proline content and relative conductivity in all cherry tomatoes decreased. The Se content of roots, stem, and leaves in seedlings increased with intercropping. Therefore, intercropping can improve the growth and Se content of cherry tomatoes, and the combination of red, yellow and purple is better, which can be used to cultivate strong seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To ensure higher productivity, fertilizers have been excessively applied to the fruit greenhouse soil yearly, thus resulting in the increasing risks of residual nitrate leaching in the North China Plain. Methods: In this study, a water and solute transport HYDRUS-1D model was used to evaluate the effects of using sweet corn as a catch crop on deep water drainage and nitrate leaching in a sweet cherry greenhouse soil. A three-year (2019–2021) field experiment was conducted during the rainfall season from July to September in the post-harvest of sweet cherry, when the plastic cover was removed each year. In the experiment, the five treatments were designed. The three nitrate residue levels denoted by CKR, N1R, and N2R, represented nitrate residue amounts in the soil profile of three nitrogen fertilizer levels(0, 280 and 420kg ha-1) before the harvest of sweet cherry(March to June). Two other treatments with and without sweet corn as a catch crop based on the treatments of N1R and N2R were denoted by N1RC and N2RC, respectively. The data of both the spatial and temporal distribution of water and nitrate content during the rainy seasons of 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the field experiment were collected to calibrate and validate the model. Results: The simulated results have showed that using sweet corn as a catch crop increased the evapotranspiration rate, the upward flux of water and nitrate at a 100 cm soil depth reached a maximum of 1.5 mm d-1 and 1.0 kg N ha-1d-1, respectively, and the downward movement of water and nitrate leached to deeper soil layers was reduced. Compared with CKR, the treatments with catch crops (N1RC and N2RC) reduced the amount of water drainage by 16.4% -47.7% in the 0-180cm soil profile. The average amounts of nitrate leaching in the 1.8 m soil profile during the three-year experiment were 88.1, 113.3, and 58.2 kg N ha−1 for the treatment without catch crop (N1R and N2R) and 32.3, 54.8, and 31.4 kg N ha−1 for the treatment with catch crop (N1RC and N2RC), respectively. The treatments (N1RC and N2RC) with catch crops decreased the amount of nitrate leaching by 29.6%-69.1% compared with the treatments without catch crops (N1R and N2R). Discussion: Sweet corn as summer catch crop can reduce nitrate leaching in the sweet cherry greenhouses. Our study has provided an effective method to reduce the risk of nitrate leaching for sweet cherry greenhouses in the North China Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can enable more efficient resource use and increase yield. Most current studies focus on the correlation between soil nutrients and crop yield under intercropping conditions. However, the mechanisms related to root exudates and soil nutrients remain unclear. Therefore, this study explored the correlation between rhizosphere soil nutrients and root exudates in sugarcane/peanut intercropping. Root extracts, root exudates, rhizosphere soil enzyme activities, and soil nutrients were analyzed and compared in monocultured and intercropped peanut and sugarcane at different growth stages. The root metabolites were annotated using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways to further identify the connection between soil nutrients and root exudates. The effects of intercropping differed in peanut and sugarcane at different growth stages, and the difference between podding and pod-filling stages was significant. Intercropping generally had a great effect on peanut; it not only significantly increased the organic acid, soluble sugars, and phenolic acids in root exudates and extracts from peanuts, but also significantly increased rhizosphere soil enzyme activities and soil nutrient levels. Intercropping peanuts promoted fumaric acid secretion from roots and significantly affected the metabolic pathways of alanine, aspartate, and glutamate. Sugarcane/peanut intercropping can increase root exudates and effectively improve soil nutrients. The changes in soil nutrients are closely related to the effects of fumaric acid on alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Extensive foliar shedding in monoculture soybeans post‐anthesis negatively impacts yield, whereas relay strip intercropping prolongs leaf area duration, enhancing productivity. However, little is known about the causes of leaf shedding in monoculture and its impact on physiological functions and plasticity of source and sink organs, we conducted a 4‐year field experiment and leaf‐removal simulations in relay intercropped soybeans. Results revealed that monoculture soybeans experienced severe self‐shading and defoliation, while relay intercropping maintained better light conditions, supporting higher leaf area, nodule numbers, and carbon allocation. Increasing leaf removal initially increased leaf area but eventually reduced it. Extensive leaf‐removal reduced Rubisco and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, as well as sucrose, malate, ATP, and energy charge (EC) in nodules, revealing a trade‐off between leaf growth and nodule development. Moderate leaf‐removal (L30), however, balanced compensation and consumption, increasing total non‐structural carbohydrates (TNC) in roots and N and ureide in leaves and pods. Network analysis showed that L30 improved the synergies of functional traits in leaves and nodules, ultimately benefiting overall plant growth and nutrient accumulation in pods. This study elucidates a mechanism of foliar shedding and highlights how relay strip intercropping optimizes source‐sink coordination to enhance photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can improve light interception and crop yield on limited farmlands. The light interception rate in intercropping is determined by row configuration. Quantifying the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops is very important for improving crop yields by optimizing the row configuration. A two-year field experiment was conducted at two sites to quantify the responses of the light interception rate of intercrops to five treatments: two rows of maize alternated with three rows of soybean (2M3S), two rows of maize alternated four rows of soybean (2M4S), two rows of maize alternated five rows of soybean (2M5S), sole soybean (SS), and sole maize (SM). We developed a multiple regression model based on the sine of the solar elevation angle (sin(h)) and crop leaf area density (LAD) to quantify the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops. The predicted light interception rate was positively correlated with the measured values of photosynthetically active radiation (R2 > 0.814) and dry matter (R2 > 0.830). Increasing soybean rows led to an increase in light interception of both soybean and the lower layer of maize. However, this also resulted in a decrease in light interception in the upper layer of maize. At the two sites, compared to 2M3S, the annual average cumulative light interception of soybean in 2M5S increased by 44.73% and 47.18%, that of the lower layer of maize in 2M5S increased by 9.25% and 8.04%, and that of whole canopy of maize decreased by 13.77% and 17.74% respectively. The changes in dry matter and yield of intercrops were consistent with the change in light interception, which further verified the high accuracy of the light interception model. The annual average maize yield of 2M5S was 6.03% and 6.16% lower but the soybean yield was 23.69% and 28.52% higher than that of 2M3S. On the basis of system yield, the best performance was recorded in 2M4S at the two sites. In summary, the newly created light interception model performs well in the quantification of the temporal and spatial changes in crop light interception in strip intercropping and has potential applications in other configurations. Optimizing row configurations across climatic regions to enhance light interception and yield at the system level will become a future target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are integrated in maize-based systems to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. However, the ecosystem services from legumes vary. Crop rotation onfarm studies were conducted over two cropping seasons (2018/19 and 2019/20) in Mkanakhoti and Kaluluma Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in Kasungu district, central Malawi. The main objective of this study was to evaluate maize response to legume cropping systems and mbeya manure. In the first season (2018/19), five treatments including sole groundnut (Gn), sole soybean (soy), sole pigeon pea (PP), and doubled-up legumes (legume + legume intercrop) - pigeon pea intercropped with groundnut (Gn+PP), and pigeon pea intercropped with soybean (Soy+PP) were grown. In the second season (2019/20), maize was planted on plots that had either sole or doubled-up legumes. These plots were split into two, one half was top dressed with 23kg N ha-1 only and the other half received 23kg N ha-1+1000kg ha-1 mbeya manure. The experiments were replicated in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Soil fertility was low and highly variable between farms in the study sites. Soil pH, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic matter (SOM) and active carbon in topsoil (0-15cm) averaged 5.1±0.5, 0.19±0.18%, 31±19.6 ppm, 1.4±0.34 %, and 193±74 mg kg-1, respectively. Application of mbeya manure to maize increased leaf chlorophyll and plant height (p<0.05). There were variations in maize yield responses to legumes with higher benefits obtained from maize rotated with doubled-up legumes than sole legumes. The results also showed that on nonresponsive soils, overall, the use of mbeya manure in combination with legume systems increased the rotational maize grain yield by 88% over maize following legumes only (p<0.05), with highest yields from doubled up legumes/maize rotations followed by groundnut/maize rotations. It is therefore recommended that on highly degraded soils, farmers can increase maize productivity through integrated soil fertility management involving a combination of 23kg N/ha and 1000kg/ha of mbeya manure applied to maize rotated with doubled-up legumes (Gn+PP or Soy+PP) and sole groundnut (Gn). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of long-term catch crop application on the structural properties of humin, which is considered the most recalcitrant fraction of soil organic matter. Soil samples from a 30-year field experiment on triticale cultivated with and without catch crops were analysed to determine the total organic carbon content and fractional composition of humic substances. Meanwhile, humin isolated from bulk soil was analysed to determine its elemental composition and spectroscopic properties measured with UV-Vis, fluorescence, and 13C-CPMAS-NMR. It was found that catch crop farming enhanced the formation of highly reactive humus substances, like low-molecular-weight fractions and humic acids, while decreasing the humin fraction. The higher H/C and O/C atomic ratios of humin and the UV-Vis, fluorescence, and 13C-CPMAS-NMR results confirmed a higher share of oxygen-containing functional groups in humin isolated from the soil with catch crop rotation, also corroborating its greater aliphatic nature. Under the conditions of our field experiment, the results indicated that organic residues from catch crops quickly undergo the decay process and are transformed mainly into highly reactive humus substances, which can potentially improve soil health, while mineral fertilisation alone without catch crops favours the stabilisation and sequestration of carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Relay intercropping of maize and soybean can improve land productivity. However, the mechanism behind N2O emissions in this practice remains unclear. A two‐factor randomized block field trial was conducted to reveal the mechanism of N2O emissions in a full additive maize–soybean relay intercropping. Factor A was three cropping systems – that is, monoculture maize (Zea mays L.), monoculture soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and maize–soybean relay intercropping. Factor B was different N supply, containing no N, reduced N and conventional N. Differences in N2O emissions, soil properties, rhizosphere bacterial communities and yield advantage were evaluated. RESULTS: The land equivalent ratio was 1.55–2.44, and the cumulative N2O emission (CEN2O) was notably lower by 60.2% in intercropping than in monoculture, respectively. Reduced N declined CEN2O without penalty on the yield advantages. The relay intercropping shifted soil properties – for example, soil organic matter, total N, NH4+ and protease activity – and improved the soil microorganism community – for example, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. Intercropping reduced CEN2O by directly suppressing nirS‐ and amoA‐regulated N2O generation during soil N cycling, or nirS‐ and amoA‐mediated soil properties shifted to reduce CEN2O indirectly. Reduced N directly reduced CEN2O by decreasing soil N content and reducing soil microorganism activities to alleviate N2O produced in soil N cycling. CONCLUSION: Conducting a full additive maize–soybean relay intercropping with reduced nitrogen supply provides a way to alleviate N2O emissions without the penalty on the yield advantage by changing rhizosphere bacterial communities and soil N cycling. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Innovative approach of rose-scented geranium intercropping with seasonal food crops is a sustainable agricultural strategy. • Demonstrating the potential of rose-scented geranium crop for higher yields as intercrops with okra. • Corroboration for higher yields, economic reliability and benefits for both farmers and environment. Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L′Herit ex Aiton) family, Geraniaceae, is also vegetative propagated (through rooted stem cutting), a high-value aromatic crop. Essential oil is extensively used in the fragrance, aromatherapy, flavor, and pharmaceutical industries. But the cultivation of rose-scented geranium as a monocrop creates competition with companion seasonal food crops in terms of limited availability of land. Intercropping is a sustainable approach to achieve higher production per unit land area and time by maximizing the utilization of available resources. This work was aimed to study the effectiveness of rose-scented geranium with companion seasonal food crops in intercropping system for enhancing the yield, quality of rose-scented geranium essential oil, and monetary gains for farmers. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in two successive years, with spatial arrangements of rose-scented geranium at 45 × 30 (G1), 45 × 45 (G2), and 45 × 60 (G3), companion seasonal food crops viz. maize (S1), sunflower (S2), mungbean (S3), okra (S4), onion (S5), and uradbean (S6) at their recommended populations along with their sole crops as a control. The results demonstrated that fresh herb yield (21.36 t/ha) and oil yield (35.57 kg/ha) were recorded maximum under S4+G2 (Okra + Rose-scented geranium at 45 × 45). In a similar manner, the highest monetary gains (4520 USD/ha) were achieved under S4+G2 (Okra + Rose-scented geranium at G2), followed by S4+G1 and S3+G2. The total land equivalent ratio (2.28), area time equivalent ratio (1.72), and land use efficiency (3.14) were higher in S4+G2 (Okra + Rose-scented geranium at G2) over monocrop. The quality of essential oils of rose-scented geranium was good and acceptable for market in all intercropping treatments. Thus, the intercropping system will help to increase high-value essential oil production and provide more benefit to seasonal food growers, as well as help the aroma industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intercropping of green manure is an important and sustainable production method in citrus orchards (Citrus reticulata). However, few studies focus on the impact of annual and perennial green manure on soil health, particularly soil microbiome and properties in acid soil. Our research objective was to explore the potential effects on soil health by intercropping with annual and perennial leguminous green manures in acid soil citrus orchards of southwestern China. The leguminous green manures used were alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). The results showed that intercropping with green manure increased the total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorous in the soil by 48.67~74.67%, 50.00~96.67%, and 44.48~45.04%, respectively. Intercropping with alfalfa significantly increased the activity of soil sucrase 63.75%, and intercropping with hairy vetch increased the activity of β-1,4-glucosidase 44.38% in the soil compared to the monoculture treatment. Intercropping hairy vetch and alfalfa altered the diversity and composition of the soil microbial community and enriched the soil with beneficial fungi and bacteria, including Mortierella and Streptomyces. The richness increased by 58.72% and 17.90% in alfalfa intercropping treatment. In conclusion, intercropping leguminous green manure improved the nutrients and activity of the enzymes in the soil and enriched the antagonistic microbiome in the soil, promoting soil health in the citrus orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) Koch] is a widely cultivated dried fruit and woody oil tree with high economic value. Continuous sole planting of pecan caused some land to lie idle and deterioration of soil conditions. Tree and medicinal crops intercropping represents an environmental-friendly and economically feasible solution to these issues. Thus, we aimed to explore the underlying mechanism by which intercropping improved soil condition by regulating the interactions of the soil microbiome and metabolome. In this study, pecans were intercropped with medicinal crops caper spurge and honeysuckle on a tree farm in China. A combined analysis of soil microbiomes and metabolomes was performed to discover the effects of intercropping on bulk and rhizosphere soils. Results: The results showed that intercropping improved the edaphic properties of bulk soil and promoted the growth of pecan and caper spurge. Intercropping also significantly altered the structures of both bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil, stabilised the enrichment of nitrogen-cyclic bacteria, for instance, Bacillus, and decreased the relative abundances of plant–pathogenic fungi, for instance, Fusarium. In addition, the result of metabolomic analysis showed that intercropping promoted the synthesis of functional compounds, such as trehalose and ethanolamine, which enhanced plant disease resistance in bulk soils. Moreover, the co-occurrence networks of microbiomes and metabolomes of bulk soils revealed that Bacillus was significantly correlated with Fusarium, Alternaria, and trehalose under intercropping patterns. Furthermore, analysis of microbiomes and metabolomes in the rhizosphere soil of caper spurge and honeysuckle revealed that Penicillium and Rhizomicrobium were significantly increased by intercropping and showed more dynamic connections with other genera and metabolites compared with single planting. Conclusions: Overall, intercropping pecans with caper spurge and honeysuckle can improve soil conditions and promote plant growth through microbiological and metabolomics integrated analyses. This study provides valuable information and theoretical basis for optimizing land resource utilisation and improving soil conditions in tree fields like pecan fields via intercropping, thereby reducing production losses and ensuring economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping, particularly within legume‐based systems, has been shown to enhance yields and optimize resource use efficiency. Yet, the potential contribution of intercropping on soil microbial communities and functions to soil nutrients cycling are not fully understood. We conducted the same field experiments at Youyu (Site1) and Zhangbei (Site2) in Northern China to evaluate the impact of oat/soybean intercropping on the rhizosphere soil bacterial community structure, composition, and co‐occurrence networks. Our results indicated that intercropping significantly modified the bacterial community structure for both oat and soybean at Site1, with changes observed only in the oat community at Site2. Specifically, intercropping led to a substantial increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Patescibacteria in the oat rhizosphere by 48.3% and 65.4% (Site1), respectively. Conversely, in the soybean rhizosphere at Site1, there was a notable decrease in the abundance of Patescibacteria and Nitrospirae by 32.4% and 40.0%, respectively. The soil bacterial functional groups demonstrated robust positive correlations with key soil parameters such as available nitrogen (Nmin), available phosphorus (Avail‐P), and the activities of nitrogen‐ and phosphorus‐acquiring enzymes in the rhizosphere. In conclusion, intercropping is an effective agricultural practice for enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus cycling by reshaping the soil bacterial community, offering a distinct advantage over monoculture practices. This insight underscores the potential of intercropping to foster sustainable soil nutrient management, highlighting the importance of integrating such practices into modern agricultural strategies to ensure long‐term productivity and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping is an important practice for controlling crop pests in Ethiopia. However, there is a limited studies on the maize–faba bean intercropping benefits for controlling stemborer (Busseola fusca) pests. This study was carried out at Wukro Agricultural College, Tigray, Ethiopia, to investigate the effects of maize intercrops with two faba bean varieties (Gora and Moti) at three different population levels (25%, 50%, and 75%) of the recommended sole faba bean (250,000 plants ha−1) on infestation, density, and damage of stemborer on maize. The intercrops significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the stemborer infestation, density, and damage on maize over to the sole maize. Maize intercrops with the Gora faba bean variety at a density of 50% lowered the pest damage on maize cobs by 35% relative to the sole maize. The intercrop also reduced the grain yield and economic losses due to the pest by 48% and 53%, respectively, compared to the sole maize. The results recommended that maize intercropped with the Gora faba bean variety at a density of 50% could be used as an alternative farming against stemborer pest in the semiarid farming systems of northern Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a cereal crop known for its biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity, a plant‐mediated activity limiting nitrification pathway. The use of BNI‐producing plants represents an environmentally friendly and cost‐effective approach to reduce nitrogen (N) losses, such as nitrate (NO3−) leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas emissions. The present study aimed to test the effectiveness of different S. bicolor cultivars in rotation to retain ammonium (NH4+) in soils and promote N availability for the subsequent wheat crop. A two‐year field rotation was established with four sorghum cultivars followed by winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Urea alone or combined with the urease inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide was applied to promote a NH4+‐based fertilization regimes.AddingN‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide maintained higher soil NH4+ content and reduced ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria population during sorghum cultivation. However, the benefits of the inhibitor on sorghum growth were cultivar‐dependent. Notably, the further reduction in ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria abundance for sorghum Voyenn and the increased soil NH4+ content for Vilomene suggested a BNI potential for these cultivars. Importantly, the Vilomene precedent enhanced wheat yield for both fertilization regimes.Overall, the present study confirms that sorghum is a suitable catch crop and emphasizes the importance of selecting the proper sorghum cultivar to maximize the yield of the target wheat crop, at the same time as minimizing N losses. Furthermore, developing combined strategies with selected sorghum cultivars and the application of urease inhibitors enables to enhance sorghum productivity as forage, achieving added value to the rotation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of different weed management techniques on the dynamics of weeds in transplanted finger millet, a field experiment was conducted from January to April 2023 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India. Nine treatments and three replications were used in the randomized block design experiment. The experimental treatments are T1- Unweeded control, TT2- Two hand weeding on 10 DAT and on T25 DAT, T3- Pendimethalin 30% EC @ 750g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT + one hand weeding on T25 DAT, T4-Pendimethalin 30 % EC @ 750g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT + Intercrop (Blackgram), T5- Pendimethalin 30% EC @ 750g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT + mulching (Sugarcane trash) on T21 DAT, T6- Bensulfuron methy l 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% G @ 660 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT + one hand weeding on T25 DAT, T7- Bensulfuron methy l 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% G @ 660 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT+ Intercrop (Blackgram), T8- Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% G @ 660 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT + mulching (Sugarcane trash) on T21 DAT and T9- One hand weeding on 10 DAT+ Bispyribac Sodium 10% SC @ T25 g a.i ha-1 on T25 DAT. According to the study's findings, pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30% EC @ 750g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAT and intercropping of blackgram in transplanted finger millet showed the lowest total weed population, lowest total weed biomass, and highest weed control efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can improve light interception and crop yield on limited farmlands. The light interception rate in intercropping is determined by row configuration. Quantifying the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops is very important for improving crop yields by optimizing the row configuration. A two-year field experiment was conducted at two sites to quantify the responses of the light interception rate of intercrops to five treatments: two rows of maize alternated with three rows of soybean (2M3S), two rows of maize alternated four rows of soybean (2M4S), two rows of maize alternated five rows of soybean (2M5S), sole soybean (SS), and sole maize (SM). We developed a multiple regression model based on the sine of the solar elevation angle (sin(h)) and crop leaf area density (LAD) to quantify the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops. The predicted light interception rate was positively correlated with the measured values of photosynthetically active radiation (R² > 0.814) and dry matter (R² > 0.830). Increasing soybean rows led to an increase in light interception of both soybean and the lower layer of maize. However, this also resulted in a decrease in light interception in the upper layer of maize. At the two sites, compared to 2M3S, the annual average cumulative light interception of soybean in 2M5S increased by 44.73% and 47.18%, that of the lower layer of maize in 2M5S increased by 9.25% and 8.04%, and that of whole canopy of maize decreased by 13.77% and 17.74% respectively. The changes in dry matter and yield of intercrops were consistent with the change in light interception, which further verified the high accuracy of the light interception model. The annual average maize yield of 2M5S was 6.03% and 6.16% lower but the soybean yield was 23.69% and 28.52% higher than that of 2M3S. On the basis of system yield, the best performance was recorded in 2M4S at the two sites. In summary, the newly created light interception model performs well in the quantification of the temporal and spatial changes in crop light interception in strip intercropping and has potential applications in other configurations. Optimizing row configurations across climatic regions to enhance light interception and yield at the system level will become a future target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intercropping and soil properties both affect soil diazotrophic communities. However, the specific effects that alfalfa-maize intercropping has on diazotrophic networks and community diversity under different soil properties remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the soil diazotrophic communities of two crop systems, alfalfa monoculture (AA) and alfalfa-maize intercropping (A/M), in two sites with similar climates but different soil properties (poor vs. average). Results and discussion: The diazotrophic network complexity and community diversity were higher at the site with poor soil than at the site with average soil (p < 0.05). Community structure also varied significantly between the sites with poor and average soil (p < 0.05). This divergence was mainly due to the differences in soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon contents between the two sites. At the site with poor soil, the A/M system had lower diazotrophic diversity, lower network complexity and greater competition between diazotrophs than the AA system (p < 0.05) because intercropping intensified the soil phosphorus limitation under poor soil conditions. However, in the average soil, it was the A/Msystemthat had an altered diazotrophic structure, with an increased abundance of 11 bacterial genera and a decreased abundance of three bacterial genera (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the effects of alfalfa-maize intercropping on diazotrophic communities were soil property-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the production and chemical composition of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum syn. Cenchrus purpureus cv. Mott) intercropped with Cajanus cajan (Mandarim and Fava Larga) and Stylosanthes guianensis (Bela) compared to its cultivation in monoculture under irrigated management in the semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted at the Campus of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, Brazil. The experiment consisted of the following treatments: elephant grass intercropped with each legume and two monoculture types, one with nitrogen fertilization (200 kg ha-1 ) and the other without. The legumes helped to improve the quality of the forage canopy, with high levels of crude protein. Nitrogen fertilization increased the mass of forage produced by elephant grass. The cumulative analysis of all the cuts showed that the intercropping between elephant grass and the Bela cultivar achieved the highest yield, with 13.49 Mg ha-1, mainly due to the increase in the population of the Bela, which proved to be superior to the other legumes over the cuts. Based on the results, the intercropping of elephant grass with the Bela cultivar is recommended as the most effective strategy for maximizing forage production in the semi-arid region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was conducted out at the Teaching and Research farm of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi. during the 2018 and 2019 farming seasons to evaluate the performance of three groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 23, SAMNUT 24 and SAMNUT 25) in intercropping with maize at three levels of intra-row spacings (50 cm, 75 cm and 100 cm). The experiment was laid out in factorial arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications. The study revealed that the highest groundnut pod yields (2276.55kg/ha in 2018 and 2355.11kg/ha in 2019) in the sole cropping system, whereas in intercropping, pod yield (2090.07kg/ha in 2018 and 2165.24kg/ha in 2019) of groundnut were highest when combined with maize at 100 cm intra-row spacing. Groundnut variety, SAMNUT 23 had pod yields (1991.68kg/ha and 1959.84kg/ha) superior to other varieties in intercropping in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Groundnut pod yields in intercropped irrespective of varieties was highest at 100 cm and least at 50 cm intrarow spacing of maize. The highest maize output (1524.85 kg/ha and 1645.95kg/ha grain yields) in 2018 and 2019 respectively were achieved at intra-row spacing of 50 cm in intercropping with Groundnut variety, SAMNUT 24. The highest Land Equivalent Ratio of 1.30 and 1.32 were observed in 2018 and 2019 respectively when maize planed at intra-row spacing of 75 cm was combined with the Groundnut variety, SAMNUT 23. SAMNUT 23 intercropped with maize at 75 cm intra-row spacing is thus recommended for optimal intercrop yield in Makurdi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cowpea is an important fodder legume crop due to its high protein content and fast growing nature. Cowpea can be grown as sole crop or it can also be grown as intercrop with some non legume such as maize, pearl millet or sorghum. Mostly the farmers prefer erect or semi erect high yielding cowpea varieties as an intercrop because they are easy to harvest. The transfer of erectness along with other forage traits can be done with proper knowledge of gene action controlling that particular trait. Methods: To improve the fodder yield, two sets of crosses along with their segregating generations were analysed for erectness along with other forage traits to estimate the type of gene action through generation mean analysis. Identification of SSR primers associated with erectness was also carried out in F2 population of a Cross (C-88 x TNFC 6926). Result: The scaling test showed significant results for most of the traits indicating the presence of epistatic interactions. The sixparametric model test was performed and the results indicated the significant overall mean and traits were inherited quantitatively. The high magnitude of additive x additive gene effect for green fodder yield suggests the pedigree method is most suitable breeding programme for development of fodder cultivars with better quality traits. Out of 151 SSR primers, 15 SSRSs showed polymorphism between two parental lines. Out of these 15 SSR primers, three primers showed linkage with erectness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legume/cereal intercropping is an example of classic nitrogen-efficient planting that can effectively improve crop yield and nutrient-utilization efficiency. However, the interaction between rhizosphere microorganisms and rhizodeposition and the related ecological mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a pot experiment using 13CO2 continuous labeling, DNA stable isotope probe technology, high-throughput sequencing, and the carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus functional gene chip to effectively track rhizosphere-deposited C and compare the microorganisms that utilize this C pool in the rhizosphere of a soybean/maize intercropping system at 21 days after labeling. The relative abundance of Caldalkalibacillus and Nesterenkonia that use rhizosphere-deposited C was significantly higher in the soybean/maize intercropping system than in monocropped soybean, but there were no significant differences between intercropped and monocropped maize. The soybean/maize intercropping system altered the composition of the microbial community that utilizes rhizosphere-deposited C and reduced the community richness. Moreover, intercropping improved the expression of functional genes associated with carbon fixation (acsH and exg) and nitrous oxide reduction (nosZ1). Overall, by tracking the flow of C from plant photosynthetic products to root exudates, our research provides new insights into identifying the microbial communities that assimilate and deposit carbon in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White oat (Avena sativa L.) is the winter cereal with the highest nutritional quality, offering multifunctional characteristics due to its benefits to human health, animal nutrition and soil cover. In this way, this crop is highly valued in society. The aim of this study were to evaluate agronomic performance and verify whether there is genetic variability in recombinant and mutant segregating progenies of white oat. The study was conducted at Escola Fazenda UNIJUI (IRDeR), located in the municipality of Augusto Pestana, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experimental design used followed an augmented block with interspersed controls. A total of 460 white oat progenies were sown and the intercrop control was represented by the cultivar URS Taura, arranged in three replications. The collected data were subjected to descriptive analysis to identify the number of informative progenies and the maximum, minimum, and average values for the measured variables. Frequency distribution graphs of characters with continuous distribution were generated, stratified by mutant and recombinant progenies. Based on the data obtained, a Bayesian approach was used with generalized mixed models through Monte Carlo and Markov Chains (MCMC). With this information, the genetic (VCV) and phenotypic variance components were estimated with significance based on the 5% probability by χ² (pMCMC). Afterwards, Euclidean distances were calculated and the distance dendrogram was carried out using the UPGMA clustering algorithm. Pearson's linear correlation coefficients were calculated between pairs of variables, with significance verified by the t test at 5% probability. The mutant progenies have greater tillering capacity, while the recombinant progenies have greater tolerance to diseases and lower natural grain threshing. There is a clear genetic variability between recombinant and mutant progenies for the evaluated characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophyte-based desalinization is emerging as a promising technology for saline agriculture. However, few studies have integrated halophytes into intercropping systems. This study investigated Suaeda salsa and soybean intercropping and the associated mechanisms, including changes in salt, nutrients, and bacterial communities at three salt treatments (control, 3‰, and 5‰). The results showed that regardless of salt treatment, soybean biomass and P content significantly increased in intercropping compared with monocropping, by an average of 32% and 51%, respectively (p < 0.05), indicating interspecific facilitation. Under 5‰ salt, soybean mortality decreased from 37% in monocropping to 10% in intercropping, and shoot Na decreased by over 60% in intercropping; the rhizosphere Na+, Cl−, and NO3−–N decreased in intercropping by over 75% compared with monocropping, and the response ratios correlated negatively with S. salsa biomass (p < 0.01). The soybean rhizosphere bacterial community in intercropping was enriched with the genera Sphingomonas, Salinimicrobium, Lysobacter, Allorhizobium–Neorhizobium–Pararhizobium–Rhizobium, and Ramlibacter, and the bacterial co-occurrence network exhibited increases in the number of nodes and edges, average degree, and average clustering coefficient. Considering the combined effects, the soybean biomass of intercropping correlated positively with bacterial co-occurrence network parameters, including average degree and number of edges, independent of tissue salt and nutrient content, and that of monocropping correlated negatively with tissue salt content. These results demonstrate that S. salsa intercropping could alleviate salt stress in soybean by creating a low-salt environment and improving its nutrient accumulation and rhizosphere bacterial community, and emphasize the importance of microbial communities in influencing soybean growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catch crops are intermediate crops sown between two main crop cycles. Their adoption into the cropping system has increased considerably in the last years due to its numerous benefits, in particular its potential in carbon fixation and preventing nitrogen leaching during winter. The growth period of catch crops in Germany is often marked by dense cloud cover, which limits land surface monitoring through optical remote sensing. In such conditions, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) emerges as a viable option. Despite the known advantages of SAR, the understanding of temporal behavior of radar parameters in relation to catch crops remains largely unexplored. Hence, in this study, we exploited the dense time series of Sentinel-1 data within the Copernicus Space Component to study the temporal characteristics of catch crops over a test site in the center of Germany. Radar parameters such as VV, VH, VH/VV backscatter, dpRVI (dual-pol Radar Vegetation Index) and VV coherence were extracted, and temporal profiles were interpreted for catch crops and preceding main crops along with in situ, temperature, and precipitation data. Additionally, we examined the temporal profiles of winter main crops (winter oilseed rape and winter cereals), that are grown parallel to the catch crop growing cycle. Based on the analyzed temporal patterns, we defined 22 descriptive features from VV, VH, VH/VV and dpRVI, which are specific to catch crop identification. Then, we conducted a Kruskal–Wallis test on the extracted parameters, both crop-wise and group-wise, to assess the significance of statistical differences among different catch crop groups. Our results reveal that there exists a unique temporal pattern for catch crops compared to main crops, and each of these extracted parameters possess a different sensitivity to catch crops. Parameters VV and VH are sensitive to phenological stages and crop structure. On the other hand, VH/VV and dpRVI were found to be highly sensitive to crop biomass. Coherence can be used to detect the sowing and harvest events. The preceding main crop analysis reveals that winter wheat and winter barley are the two dominant main crops grown before catch crops. Moreover, winter main crops (winter oilseed rape, winter cereals) cultivated during the catch crop cycle can be distinguished by exploiting the observed sowing window differences. The extracted descriptive features provide information about sowing, harvest, vigor, biomass, and early/late die-off nature specific to catch crop types. In the Kruskal–Wallis test, the observed high H-statistic and low p-value in several predictors indicates significant variability at 0.001 level. Furthermore, Dunn's post hoc test among catch crop group pairs highlights the substantial differences between cold-sensitive and legume groups (p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The performance of five improved cowpea varieties under strip intercropping has been conducted in specific locations to assess their yield but their adaptability has not been determined. This paper presents results that assessed the adaptability of the improved cowpea varieties under strip intercropping in three locations in Limpopo province. Methods: Five cowpea varieties (TVu 13464, IT86D-1010, Glenda, IT82E-16 and IT87K-499-35) and maize were planted under strip intercropping in three locations (UL-Farm, Bela-Bela and Ga-Thaba) and two seasons. Data were collected on maturity, grain yield, land equivalent ratio, pods plant-1, plant height and seed size and were analysed using Genstat 20.1. Result: The ranking plot of grain yield indicates that the principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained 96.33% of the total sum of square variation. The results indicate that IT86D-1010 and IT82E-16 matured early and were best yielders. The LER from IT82E-16, IT86D-1010, TVu 13464 and IT87K-499-35 exceedingly performed better that from Glenda (Control) thus indicating that they are superior in adaptation and in resource utilization. The performance and adaptation of the varieties varied across locations: IT82E- 16 is adapted to UL-Farm and Bela-Bela while IT86D-1010 and IT87K-499-35 are adapted to Ga-Thaba and their production should be based on their best location(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is harmful for crop development and productivity. The adoption of intercropping practice and microbial auxiliaries can combat the harmful actions of salt stress. The present study aimed to investigate the role of intercropping and co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to protect barley and alfalfa against salt stress (120 mM NaCl). Results revealed that, under saline conditions, the applied intercropping system and AMF + PGPR co-inoculation enhanced shoot and root dry weight by 133% and 354% for barley and 410% and 471% for alfalfa, respectively, over their respective non-inoculated monocultures. Meanwhile, as compared to non-inoculated monocultures, the association of intercropping and AMF + PGPR co-application boosted antioxidant enzymes activity, namely superoxide dismutase and catalase, by 161% and 63% for barley and 316% and 113% for alfalfa, respectively. Additionally, the thousand-seed weight was increased by 77% in barley intercropped and inoculated with AMF + PGPR. This study highlights the potential of intercropping and AMF + PGPR as a promising solution to improve salt tolerance and crop productivity by increasing physiological capacity, boosting nutrient acquisition, and enhancing redox potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of soil tillage with the application of catch crop green mass in the form of a mulch is a conservation practice that is being used more and more frequently in agriculture to improve the functioning of the soil ecosystem by enhancing soil organic matter content and quality through improving soil biological activity and nutrient availability, and simultaneously reducing soil disturbance. Globally, conflicting results have been obtained with regards to the influence of various tillage methods on the soil environment under soybean cultivation. To date, only limited Polish studies have been conducted concerning the effect of reduced tillage on plant and soil properties under soybean cultivation, while as yet there are no national surveys concerning the strip‐till cultivation of soybean. Because of the growing interest in soybean cultivation in Poland, and also because of the limited and contradictory data concerning the influence of the various tillage systems (especially strip‐till) applied for soybean cultivation on plant yield and also on soil properties under the climatic condition of Poland, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of three tillage methods (TMs) (conventional, CT; reduced, RT and strip‐tillage, ST) on the seed yield of soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merrill), some plant characteristics, N‐associated soil properties (mineral N content, the activity of urease, proteases and nitrate reductase) and some basic soil properties in a three‐year field experiment in the years 2017–2019. The study was conducted in a field, it was a one‐factor experiment and soil samples were collected five times a year: in April (before the sowing of soybean) and also in May, June, August and September (before soybean harvesting). In 2017, the average soybean seed yield was twice as high (2.42 t ha−1) as in the other 2 years (mean 0.87 t ha−1) and was significantly higher in CT than in RT or ST. Neither the TMs nor the sampling dates differentiated between the content of organic carbon and total nitrogen. Most of the N‐related properties (mineral N content and enzymatic activity) were highest in May and/or June. The RT increased the activity of proteases and nitrate reductase as well as mineral and microbial biomass N content when compared with CT and ST. In turn, the urease activity behaved differently and in 2017 and 2019 was significantly higher in CT, than in RT and ST tillage methods. In general terms, reduced tillage combined with plant residues return may be recommended for increasing inorganic N content as well as improving soil quality by enhancing microbial biomass nitrogen content and soil enzymatic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping to integrate cover crops with fruit trees in the Brazilian Cerrado is an innovative strategy for creating a more sustainable food system. This agricultural practice contributes to maintaining soil quality and improves fruits' chemical and technological properties, such as those of Eugenia dysenterica (Mart.) DC. (cagaita). Given the significant fruit production potential of the Brazilian Cerrado, this study aimed to investigate the impact of an intercropping system involving cagaita trees and various cover crops, specifically Calopogonium mucunoides Desv. (CA), Crotalaria juncea (CR), Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (LA), brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens L.) + nitrogen source (urea) (BRN), and brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens L.) (BR), on the chemical composition, technological properties, and morphological characteristics of cagaita fruits. Treatments involving leguminous cover crops (CA, LA, and CR) significantly increased nitrogen (N) levels in cagaita fruits, comparable to those observed with the BRN treatment. However, the treatment utilizing BR resulted in the highest levels of macrominerals (Ca, Mg, and K), which are essential for meeting the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) and demonstrated a notable positive impact on pulp yield (>78%). Additionally, the antioxidant potential and phenolic content were the highest in the BR, CA, and LA treatments, with the lowest levels recorded for the CR treatment. This study underscores the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in the Brazilian Cerrado, demonstrating their potential to enhance the nutritional quality (both micro and macronutrients), technological properties, and overall development of Eugenia dysenterica DC. fruits, thereby adding value to food and contributing to a more resilient and productive food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intricate interactions between strip spacings, water-fertilizer treatments, and the ensuing impact on the physiological attributes and productivity of maize and soybean intercropping systems. Implementing a 2:4 maize-soybean planting configuration within the Ningxia Yellow River irrigation zone, the research scrutinizes the effects of strip spacing (A), irrigation allocation (W), and fertilization intensity (F) on the physiological dynamics, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, and yield metrics of both crops and their integrated systems. It aims to provide comprehensive technical insights for the widespread application of strip intercropping strategies in maize and soybean agroecosystems. Findings reveal nuanced influences, notably the dominant effects of A during critical growth stages of maize (contributing rates of 75.6% to 83.7% during jointing and 52.4% to 81.3% during grain filling) and W primarily impacting the tasseling stage (contributing rates of 91.4% to 92.5%). Moreover, A significantly shapes soybean physiological indices during flowering (contributing rates of 97.9% to 99.3%), while W predominantly impacts pod setting (contributing rate of 70%). Treatment T6 (A2W3F1), characterized by heightened irrigation and reduced fertilizer application, augments maize net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area index (LAI) but exhibits an inverse relationship with soybean LAI. The tripartite factors significantly influence both system yield and economic benefits, ranking in order of W>A>F. Notably, all levels of A and W significantly affect maize yield and system productivity, particularly A2>A3>A1 and W3>W2> W1, while the F level shows negligible impact on soybean yield. Contribution analyses underscore A2>A3>A1, W3>W2>W1, and F1>F3> F2 in terms of system economic benefits. Specifically, A2 presents a 25.2% higher benefit compared to A1, W3 demonstrates a 32.3% higher benefit than W1, and F1 exhibits an 11.2% higher benefit over F2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food, feed, and fiber production needs to increase to support demands of the growing population in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), while soil fertility continues to decline. Intercropping, the cultivation of two or more crop species on the same field, can provide yield benefits and is suggested to positively affect soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks. This study uses the biogeochemical model system LandscapeDNDC with the objective to (a) represent maize‐legume intercropping systems in different bioregions in SSA by simultaneously simulating both crops and their interactions and (b) assess long‐term (20 years) impacts of intercropping under varying mineral fertilizer inputs (0–150 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on productivity as well as soil organic C and N stocks. We test LandscapeDNDC on 82 field data sets (site‐year‐treatment combinations) from 18 sites to represent yields and soil C/N dynamics of maize‐legume intercropping systems. Using the model for long‐term scenario simulations showed that intercropping allows to sustain productivity and to improve or maintain SOC stock in low or zero fertilizer systems if all residues are returned to the soil. In contrast, for sole‐cropped maize systems, a decline in SOC stocks was simulated unless a minimum of 35 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of fertilizer was applied at full residue return. We conclude that intercropping using legumes alongside sufficient residue return allows for stabilizing long‐term yields while avoiding SOC losses even with low fertilizer N inputs. Overall, our study confirms the potential of intercropping as a sustainable agricultural practice that could significantly contribute to food security in SSA. Key Points: Intercropping alongside sufficient residue return allows for stabilizing long‐term yieldsIntercropping allows to maintain SOC stocks in low or zero fertilizer systems if all residues are returned to the soilIntercropping reduces the amount of N fertilizer needed to maintain soil N stocks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Under water stress conditions, intercropping can be used as a strategy for maximum use of sunlight and limited water resources. Due to the difference in morphological and physiological traits, the two plants corn and mung bean may be suitable for intercropping under drought stress; Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of drought stress on the physiological traits and yield of corn and mung beans in monocultures and intercropping in order to study the possibility of reducing water consumption in this production system. Materials and methods: An experiment was carried out as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Ilam University during 2019-2020 growing season. The main plot were four water regimes including (40, 60, 80, and 100% of the plant's water requirement) and the subplots were include the planting pattern at four levels (additive intercropping series 100% corn + 50% mung bean, replacement intercropping series 50% corn + 50% mung bean and monocultures of mung bean and corn). The application of drought stress started after the establishment stage of the plant and continued until the harvest. At the end of the growth period, some physiological traits of both plants were measured, including photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, proline amount, leaf relative water content and grain yield. Finally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Minitab 14 and SAS 9.1 softwares and the means compared by HSD test at 5% probability level (p≤0.05). Results and discussion: The results showed the highest rate of photosynthesis (25.4 µmol CO2.m-2.s-1) was obtained in the treatment of 100% water requirement and the lowest rate of photosynthesis was obtained in 40% water requirement, which showed a decrease of 68.5% compared to the well-watered conditions. The rate of photosynthesis of corn in the replacement intercropping of 50% corn + 50% mung bean was 18.3% higher compared to monocultures corn. The highest rate of mung bean photosynthesis was observed in replacement intercropping under conditions of 100% water requirement and additive intercropping series under 80% water requirement, and the lowest rate of mung bean photosynthesis was observed in intercropping under conditions of 60 and 40% water requirement. Dehydration stress decreased the amount of total chlorophyll in mung beans and corn. The highest intercellular CO2 concentration (475.5 mmol of CO2.m-2.s-1) and the temperature of the corn leaf (36.7 °C) belonged to the 40% water requirement treatment. The rate of transpiration of corn and mung bean decreased by 55.56 and 61.43% in the condition of 40% water requirement compared to well-watered conditions. Water stress reduced the relative water content of corn and mung bean. The highest proline in corn and mung leaves (46.3 and 45.23 µmol.g-1.FW-1, respectively) was obtained in the treatment of 40% water requirement, which had no significant difference with 60% water requirement. Corn grain yield in the treatment of 40% water requirement showed a decrease of 52.76% compared to 100% water requirement. Monocultures (3945.8 kg.ha-1) and intercropping (3875.1 kg.ha-1) had the highest corn grain yield, and the lowest corn grain yield in replacement intercropping was 2700 kg ha-1. At all irrigation levels, the highest grain yield of mung bean was obtained in monocultures, and the yield decreased in additive and replacement intercropping, and additive intercropping had the lowest grain yield. The values of land equality ratio of all intercropping patterns were greater than one, which indicates the advantage of corn and mung bean intercropping patterns to use land and increase yield. Conclusion: Considering the occurrence of recent droughts in arid and semi-arid regions of the country and the need for forage in these regions, the cultivation of forage plants, especially corn, is inevitable. Therefore, one of the appropriate strategies to protection in management and water consumption is the intercropping of this plant with plants of the legume such as mung bean. Intercropping can partially moderate the effects of drought stress on plant water conditions. In general, it seems that the patterns of intercropping and substitution, due to having higher grain yield potential, is a suitable strategy for producing higher yield and stability of this plant compared to monocultural under well-watered and stress water. Acknowledgments: This research has been carried out using the research credits of Ilam University, by which we express our thanks and appreciation to the respected Assistance of Research and Technology of Ilam University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of the leaf are important for adaptive plant growth and nutrient utilization. However, our knowledge of how these traits change with N fertilization in intercropping systems remains limited. Hence, a 2‐year experiment was conducted with four cropping patterns, including two‐row common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) intercropping with one‐row oat (Avena sativa L.), one‐row common vetch intercropping with two‐row oat as well as sole oat and common vetch cropping with 0, 50, and 100 kg N/ha fertilization. Leaf total nitrogen (LTN) and phosphorus (LTP) concentrations and C:N:P stoichiometric ratios were measured and their linkages with soil nutrient availability were analysed. N fertilization significantly increased LTN, N:P, and C:P, while significantly decreasing LTP and C:N. Intercropping affected leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, which were affected by N fertilization, basic soil fertility, and crop species. Intercropping and N fertilization affected soil nitrate nitrogen (SNN), available phosphorus (SAP) content, and dry matter (DM) yield. There were strong correlations between the leaf nutritional traits of oats and SNN, SAP, and DM, but few correlations were observed with common vetch. In conclusion, intercropping led to contrasting changes in leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios, which varied with N fertilization and crop species. We failed to reveal solid and direct effects of intercropping ratio on leaf nutritional traits. These findings contribute to a better understanding of crop nutritional traits and the link between leaves and soil in response to intercropping and N fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices can improve soil quality and sustainably increase crop yield while slowing down the rate of ongoing degradation. This research assessed the effects of selected ISFM practices on soil properties at the Dire and Legedadi watersheds, central highlands of Ethiopia, in the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons. Eight treatments were selected (sole wheat, sole faba bean, 100% recommended NPS + urea fertilizers, 100% recommended vermicompost (VC), wheat with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half‐dose NPS + urea fertilizers, and wheat and faba bean intercropping with 50% VC). The treatments were studied on farmers' fields using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that soil samples collected from each plot indicated significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Pav), exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Na+, and Kexc), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Soil pH and moisture showed improvement in combined fertilizers application compared to the preplanting soil sample. A combined application of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers significantly (p < 0.05) increased SOC, Pav, K+, Na+, and CEC compared to the control. A combined application of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers improved the soil quality. The highest TN contents of 0.36% at the Dire site and 0.30% at the Legedadi site were obtained with the full dose VC treatment. Additionally, this treatment resulted in the greatest water‐holding capacity and soil carbon stock at both sites. Similarly, the wheat‐faba bean intercropped plots showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the soil carbon stock and sequestration over the control in both study sites. Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that the combined application of a half dose of each VC and NPS + urea fertilizers improved most soil physicochemical properties at both sites. This suggests that using a combination of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers can help farmers reduce their inorganic fertilizer needs by 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]