Search Results (164)

The western Shanxi Loess region, as a typical semi-arid ecologically fragile zone, faces severe soil and water resource constraints. The apple–peanut intercropping system can significantly improve water productivity and economic benefits through complementary resource utilization, representing an effective approach for sustainable agricultural development in the region. This study took the apple–peanut intercropping system as the research object (apple variety: ‘Yanfu 8’; peanut variety: ‘Huayu 38’), setting three peanut planting densities (D1: 27,500 plants/ha; D2: 18,333 plants/ha; D3: 10,833 plants/ha) and two water regulation measures—W1 (irrigation upper limit at 85% of field capacity, FC) and W2 (65% FC), with non-irrigated controls (CK) at different planting densities for comparison. This study systematically analyzed the synergistic regulation effects of intercropping density and water management on system water use and comprehensive benefits. Results showed that medium planting density combined with medium irrigation (W2D2 treatment) could maximize intercropping advantages, effectively improving the intercropping system’s soil water content (SWC), yield (GY), and water use efficiency (WUE). This research provides a theoretical basis for precision irrigation in fruit–crop intercropping systems in semi-arid regions. However, based on the significant water-saving and yield-increasing effects observed in the current experimental year, follow-up studies should verify its stability through multi-year fixed-position observation data. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intercropping Brassica oleracea. with three perennial grasses (Poa pratensis L., Lolium perenne L., and Festuca rubra L.) under varying levels of iron (Fe) availability (Fe0, Fe1 and Fe5) in nutrient solutions. The research focused on biomass accumulation, photosynthetic efficiency, root development, nutrient uptake, and oxidative stress response. In the absence of Fe, Brassica sp. exhibited chlorosis, reduced biomass, and increased ferric chelate reductase (FCR) enzyme activity as an adaptive response. Brassica plants intercropped with Poa sp. maintained higher chlorophyll (Chl) levels and photosystem II efficiency (F_v/F_m values), mitigating Fe deficiency effects. Catalase activity and polyphenol production varied with intercropping species, indicating differential stress response mechanisms. Intercropping improved Zn, Mn, and P accumulation, with Poa sp. facilitating greater Zn and Mn uptake. Intercropping Brassica sp. with specific grass species offers potential agronomic benefits by improving Fe use efficiency, mitigating stress, and enhancing nutrient uptake. Future research should focus on optimizing intercropping combinations for sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

This study aimed to clarify the effects of jujube–cotton intercropping on cotton yield and photosynthetic characteristics, providing a theoretical basis for its application in the oasis irrigation areas of southern Xinjiang and offering practical recommendations to local farmers for increasing economic benefits. The effects were investigated from 2020 to 2023 using Zhongmian 619 cotton and juvenile jujube trees. Changes in leaf area index (LAI), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), yield, and economic benefits were evaluated over the years. The results showed that (1) a positive correlation was observed between LAI and the photosynthetic characteristics of cotton. Compared to monoculture cotton, intercropped cotton exhibited lower Pn, Gs, and Tr, and at the peak boll stage, monoculture cotton had significantly higher photosynthetic characteristics, indicating that intercropping affected cotton photosynthesis. (2) From 2020 to 2023, the land equivalent ratio (LER) of jujube–cotton intercropping remained above 1, with overall yield and economic benefit surpassing those of monoculture cotton and jujube, particularly in 2023 when the yield increased by 55.35%. (3) A significant positive correlation was found between cotton yield and LAI. In conclusion, jujube–cotton intercropping enhances photosynthesis, improving yield, economic benefits, and land use efficiency. Full article

Aeroponics efficiently conserves water and fertilizer but faces energy sustainability challenges in maintaining high productivity and quality. This study aimed to identify critical growth phases of lettuce affected by management modes and assess resource/energy efficiency (cost per unit yield) to inform the development of sustainability strategies for lettuce production in a lettuce-dominant aeroponics system integrated with radish. Three management modes were tested: M1 (constant nutrient solution concentrations), M2 (variable nutrient solution concentrations), and M3 (combined variable nutrient solution concentrations and preharvest short-duration continuous light for 48 h). Plant parameters were dynamically measured in a 30-day cultivation cycle. The results showed that the intercropped lettuce exhibited peak growth at 15–25 days after transplanting, and nutrient solution adjustment enhanced the shoot weight and quality, with synergistic quality improvements under M3. However, preharvest lighting reduced the net photosynthetic rate via stomatal closure and lowered the effective quantum yield of photosystem II, preventing biomass increase. The preharvest short-duration continuous light elevated the soluble protein, ascorbic acid, and soluble sugar contents. For yield-focused systems, M2 alone achieved comparable shoot weight to M3 with higher energy efficiency. However, when simultaneously considering lettuce quality enhancement and the yield boost of radish in the intercropping system, M3 demonstrated potential for greater marginal benefits. Full article

The use of service (cover) crops is widely practiced in soil agriculture due to their many benefits, including enhanced nutrient supply and improved soil health. Bacteria, as major decomposers of plant residues in the soil, play essential roles in nutrient cycling. This study examined the impact of various almond orchard management practices on the soil microbial community composition in a hyper-arid ecosystem. High-throughput sequencing was used to compare the microbial communities in two adjacent almond orchards managed with either organic (ORG) or regenerative agriculture (RA) practices, alongside an uncultivated (UC) site. Notably, little is known about the responses of soil bacterial communities in hyper-arid regions to intercrop mulch from service crops. This study may offer insights into the ecological limits of the benefits of service crops in promoting soil health under extreme conditions. Our findings demonstrate that RA management can alter soil organic carbon levels and reshape microbial communities by increasing overall bacterial abundance and enriching specific keystone taxa. These changes may have significant implications for nutrient cycling processes in hyper-arid agroecosystems. Full article

Intercropping, the cultivation of two or more crops in the same field, is known to have numerous environmental and economic benefits. The success of such systems depends on geographical location, climatic conditions, and the choice of crop varieties, especially in organic systems. This study aimed to assess the effect of the sowing method, wheat variety, legume species on wheat grain yield and quality, and macro-elements of soil and plants. A three-year field experiment in intercropping spring wheat and legume species was performed at an organic-certified field of Czech Agrifood Research Center, Prague. Three spring wheat varieties (Alicia, Hystrix, and Toccata), two legume species (pea and faba bean), and two sowing methods (mixed and row-by-row) were used. Although the intercropping of wheat variety and legume species did not improve wheat yield, wheat grain quality and soil and plant nutrition content were enhanced in wheat and legume mixtures compared to monoculture wheat. Notably, the mixed cropping method resulted in significantly higher yields than the row-by-row method. Furthermore, the baking quality of wheat grains from intercropping systems was superior to that of monoculture wheat. The results highlight the potential of tailored intercropping systems to optimize agricultural efficiency and sustainability, especially in the face of changes in climate change. Full article

Crop diversification is a vital strategy for achieving sustainable agriculture and food security, yet adoption rates remain low. This study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing crop diversification among smallholder farmers. A two-stage sampling procedure was employed to elicit data from 161 farmers solely specializing in crop production. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, analyzed using descriptive statistics. The multiple linear regression and multivariate probit regression models were applied to assess the socioeconomic factors influencing diversification. The results revealed that smallholders primarily focused on vegetable cultivation (87%), followed by cereals (56%) and legumes (43%). Education level, household size, market access, and the perceived benefits of diversification significantly (p < 0.05) influenced diversification decisions. Also, sources of irrigation water, age, marital status, and farm size were key factors in vegetable diversification, while farming experience, farm size, and perceived benefits influenced legume diversification. Only marital status and farming experience were positively linked to cereal crop diversification. Furthermore, 48.4% of farmers practice intercropping, integrating maize with pumpkins or sugar beans, while 33.5% still rely on monoculture, predominantly maize, due to limited resources. These findings highlight the need for policies and extension support to address socioeconomic barriers and encourage a wider adoption of crop diversification strategies. Full article

In northern China, intercropping soybeans with forage mulberry (Morus alba L.) enhances soybean yields through the optimization of natural resource use. However, the mechanisms underlying these improvements remain largely unknown. The aim was to explore the effects of this intercropping on soybean growth and yield. We used transcriptomics, redundancy analysis, and structural equation modeling to evaluate soybean growth, yield, and nodulation; results showed that intercropping did not adversely affect plant height or stem diameter but increased chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, leaf area, and yield of soybean. It also increased soil available phosphorus, soil available potassium and soil water content, while reducing soil available nitrogen and the pH value. It promoted P and organic acid metabolism, transporter activity, and key-gene expression. Redundancy analysis strikingly reveals that intercropping is positively correlated with yield, gene expression and soil properties. Meanwhile, structural equation modeling analysis demonstrates that the content of available phosphorus, available potassium, and water in rhizosphere soil are positively correlated with soybean nodulation. Additionally, nodulation traits can directly enhance nitrogen metabolism, which subsequently boosts photosynthesis and ultimately exerts an indirect positive influence on soybean yield. Furthermore, intercropping soybeans with forage mulberry did not induce shade stress on the above-ground portion of soybeans but promoted its growth and nodulation. Full article

Morchella rotation and intercropping is a new and efficient ecological planting mode, which not only contributes to economic growth, but also promotes the sustainable development of agriculture and has high ecological benefits. Morchella sextelata is an edible mushroom that relies on soil-based cultivation. Understanding the composition and dynamics of soil fungal communities under different cropping systems is crucial for optimising its cultivation. This study investigated the fungal community characteristics of Morchella spp. under different rotation and intercropping patterns, together with the associated environmental factors. Using Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing coupled with ecological and statistical analyses, the relative abundance, alpha diversity index, beta diversity, and intergroup differences in fungal communities were assessed. Additionally, key soil physical and chemical properties were evaluated across four cultivation systems: conventional Morchella spp. cultivation, Morchella sextelata—ginger rotation, vine—Morchella sextelata intercropping, and mulberry tree—Morchella sextelata intercropping. Our results indicate that Morchella spp. cultivation leads to a significant decline in soil fungal diversity compared to uncultivated soils This indicates that cultivation with Morchella spp. simplifies the soil fungal community structure to some extent. Furthermore, distinct variations in fungal community structure were observed across the different cropping systems. Regarding major pathomycete, the relative abundance of Paecilomyces penicillatus increases in vine intercropping soil (VIS), whereas Botryotrichum atrogriseum and Paecilomyces sp. are more abundant in ginger rotation soil (GRS). Similarly, Fusarium solani and Mortierella sp. exhibit higher relative abundance in mulberry tree intercropping soil (MTIS) and fallow soil (FS) compared to natural soil (NS). Functional prediction analysis indicated a general increase in the relative abundance of potential animal and plant pathogenic fungi across all the soil samples, excluding the VIS. This increase was most pronounced in GRS. Further study revealed that the physical and chemical properties of covering soil, including pH, available potassium (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and total phosphorus (TP), significantly influence fungal community diversity and structure. A significant negative correlation was observed between pH and the relative abundance of Fusarium fungi. These findings provide valuable data for further exploration of the ecological mechanisms underlying Morchella spp. cultivation, including rotation constraints and disease dynamics. Ultimately, this research aims to support the development of sustainable and high-quality Morchella spp. production. Full article

Long-term intensive agricultural management practices have led to a continuous decline in farmland soil quality, posing a serious threat to food security and agricultural sustainability. Green manure, as a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cover crop, plays a significant role in enhancing soil quality, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The improvement of soil quality by green manure is primarily manifested in the enhancement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Specifically, it increases soil organic matter content, optimizes soil structure, enhances nutrient cycling, and improves microbial community composition and metabolic activity. The integration of green manure with agronomic practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilizer application, and organic material incorporation demonstrates its potential in addressing agricultural development challenges, particularly through its contributions to soil quality improvement, crop yield stabilization, water and nutrient use efficiency enhancement, fertilizer input reduction, and agricultural greenhouse gas emission mitigation. However, despite substantial evidence from both research and practical applications confirming the benefits of green manure, its large-scale adoption faces numerous challenges, including regional variability in application effectiveness, low farmer acceptance, and insufficient extension technologies. Future research should further clarify the synergistic mechanism between green manure and agronomic measures such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilization and organic material return to field. This will help explore the role of green manure in addressing the challenges of soil degradation, climate change and food security, develop green manure varieties adapted to different ecological conditions, and optimize green manure planting and management technologies. Governments should comprehensively promote the implementation of green manure technologies through economic incentives, technology extension, and educational training programs. The integration of scientific research, policy support, and technological innovation is expected to establish green manure as a crucial driving force for facilitating the global transition towards sustainable agriculture. Full article

The increasing global food demand, the degradation of one-third of agricultural land, and climate change pose significant threats to food production. Maize and soybean intercropping can enhance yields and land use efficiency, yet the year-interval effects of continuous intercropping on yield, yield sustainability, and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) remain unclear. This study evaluates the effects of continuous maize/soybean intercropping over year intervals on yield, PUE, and sustainability. A seven-year field trial (2017–2023) was conducted on acidic soil, comparing two cropping systems: maize monocropping and maize intercropped with soybean. The results showed that continuous maize/soybean intercropping outperformed maize monocropping across all year intervals. Over the first, third, and seventh year intervals, maize yield increased by 37%, 35%, and 58%, respectively, with a 55% average increase over the seven years. Intercropping also enhanced P use efficiency, as evidenced by AE, RE, PFP, and CPF increases. In the first year, AE, PFP, RE, and CPF increased by 48%, 37%, 27%, and 16%, respectively; after the third year interval, these metrics improved by 40%, 35%, 26%, and 14%; and after the seventh year interval, they rose by 60%, 58%, 24%, and 10.5%. The average AE, RE, and PFP increases over seven years were 53%, 52%, and 27%, respectively, while CPF increased by 13%. The SEM analysis further confirmed the substantial impact of the seventh year intercropping interval on maize yield, sustainability, and PUE. This study demonstrates that continuous maize/soybean intercropping can enhance maize yield, PUE, and sustainability, with the seventh year interval offering the most pronounced benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for improving food security and nutrient management challenges. Full article

Composite planting has become one of the primary agricultural practices promoted in recent years, especially in the northwest inland cotton regions of China, where various economic trees and crops are intercropped with cotton. However, research on the microclimatic differences affecting cotton growth and the nutrient allocation strategies for cotton’s key economic organs (i.e., seed, batt, and shell) in strip composite cropping systems remains limited. In this study, we examined the nutrient allocation strategies of cotton under multiple composite cropping patterns and proposed the most suitable cultivation patterns for this region in the northwest inland region of China, utilizing an allometry partitioning index and ecological stoichiometry, based on a long-term positional experiment. The results revealed that the nutrient distribution of cotton was of equal speed with the combined planting with trees, while there was an allometric distribution index of N and P between the combined planting with maize. The effect of the compound planting mode on the nutrient-use efficiency of cotton was mainly reflected in the organ differentiation stage of its reproductive growth stage. Specifically, cotton showed lower nutrient-use efficiency in reproductive organs when intercropped with low shrubs and herbaceous crops, likely due to the insufficient protective capacity of these plants for cotton. Interestingly, strip intercropping with tall trees improved cotton’s nutrient-utilization efficiency. However, it also resulted in reduced nitrogen and phosphorus content in cotton batt. Moreover, soil indicators such as available nitrogen and electrical conductivity positively influenced the nutrient uptake of cotton shells and roots, while soil phosphorus promoted the nutrient absorption of cotton seed but inhibited the nitrogen and phosphorus of cotton shell and the nitrogen of cotton batt. These findings suggest that nutrient partitioning in cotton is influenced by a variety of soil factors. According to these results, the combined planting pattern of cotton and apple trees should be considered in practice to improve cotton yield and economic benefits in the northwest inland region of China. Full article

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) exhibit varied composition and dynamics as intrinsic characteristics of their specificities. In this context, a review of the adoption, composition, and dynamics of AFSs in the Amazon biome was conducted to identify the origin, institutions, and researchers of published studies with results on this scientific topic, focused on trends and characteristics of AFSs diversity in the Amazon. The methodology adopted was a scoping review, based on searches in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using specific keywords to ensure that the articles addressed topics related to the adoption, composition, and dynamics of AFSs in the Amazon. Following the selection of subtopics, 66 articles were selected and analyzed. The analysis revealed that research on AFSs in the Amazon highlights interactions among traditional knowledge, innovations, and sustainability. The analysis of research published between 1996 and 2023 indicated growth in studies with an interdisciplinary focus, primarily from Brazil. However, internationalization, collaborative networks, and funding factors contribute to the prominence of foreign institutions. Research studies often address topics such as species diversity, agrobiodiversity, and tree growth in agroforestry intercrops. In this context, homegarden agroforestry (HAF) emerges as one of the main subjects of study, encompassing multifunctional environments, richness diversity, and ongoing experimentation with plant species. The choice of species for AFSs is influenced by factors such as labor, personal preferences, and market demands, although loggers and commercial forestry systems tend to have lower diversity, contrasting with HAF. AFSs implementation methods vary according to financing, management, and the farmer’s education and gender. Environmental conservation, food security, ecosystem services, and production flexibility are highlighted as benefits of AFSs, while challenges include technical and economic limitations. This research highlights the strengthening and consolidation of AFSs by addressing scientific gaps and demonstrating the need for studies on the adoption, consolidation, and management of these systems, as well as the relationship between diversity and yield. Future research should be concentrated on deepening studies on the relationship between diversity and yield in AFSs, as well as on management strategies that support the consolidation of these systems in the Amazon biome, integrating innovation, public policy support, and traditional knowledge of farmers. Full article

Competitive effects and responses influenced by spatial arrangements and dwarf bean interactions were assessed in traditional maize/bean intercropping systems in northern Malawi at the Meru Experimental Research Station between the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 growing seasons. A revised maize population with reduced plant spacing as a response to crop intensification limited the inclusion of bean intercrops and, hence, reduced bean productivity. Increasing dwindling landholding per capita aggravated the need to identify suitable bean cultivars for intercropping. Five dwarf bean varieties bred for a sole cropping system were evaluated in four spatial intercropping arrangements with maize at two bean planting densities in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times in an additive series. Interactions between companion crops were assessed with the land equivalent ratio (LER) and aggressivity (A). Crop yields were measured to ascertain crop interactions. The PLER showed significantly higher values for maize than bean intercrops. Across the two cropping seasons and at any bean sowing density, alternate-row intercropping showed statistically better land and resource use efficiencies than within-row intercropping. The A values for maize were higher than beans in the intercropping systems. In the intercropping system, maize and beans had positive and negative A values, respectively. In both growing seasons, LER and A values increased in alternate-row over within-row intercropping systems, demonstrating that maize/dwarf bean intercropping has the potential to improve productivity among smallholder farmers in Malawi. All bean cultivars performed well in intercropping arrangements in both seasons except for Mnyambitira, which performed inferiorly in within-row intercropping except for alternate-rows. At any bean sowing density, farmers can realise more benefits if the bean intercrops are spatially sown in alternate-row than within-row arrangements Full article

Intercropping legumes is an effective and sustainable planting pattern that has the benefit of decreasing chemical fertilizer input and improving the soil environment. However, the effects of chemical fertilizer reduction and intercropping different legumes on soil nutrients, microorganisms, and tea quality remain elusive. Hereby, compared with 100% chemical fertilizer (CK), Sesbania cannabina (SC) and Crotalaria pallida Blanco (CP) were selected as the intercropped plant with 70% chemical fertilizer to investigate its effect on soil nutrients, microorganisms, and tea quality. The results showed that compared with monocropping, intercropping legumes had greater concentrations of the soil labile organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen. Intercropping systems significantly enhanced the content of non-ester-type catechins (catechin and gallocatechin) and ester-type catechins (epicatechin gallate). In SC, the content of gallocatechin, catechin, and epicatechin gallate increased by 146.67%, 107.69%, and 21.05%, respectively, while in CP, the content of these three compounds increased by 166.67%, 84.62%, and 19.08%, respectively. Significant differences in microbial composition were also observed under different systems. Actinobacteria, Rhodoplanes, and Thaumarchaeota were obviously enhanced in SC, while Rhodanobacter, Pseudolabrys, and Pedosphaera were manifestly improved in CP compared to those in the monoculture. Moreover, intercropping legumes significantly increased the abundances of CNP cycling functional genes, such as gpmB, mch, accD6, pgi-pmi, mcr, glmS, ACOX1 and fadB (carbohydrate metabolism), nirD and narI (nitrification), pmoB-amoB and hao (dissimilatory N reduction), and phoN (organic phosphoester hydrolysis). The relationship between intercropping systems and tea qualities was mainly established by soil nutrition and the abundance of C and N cycling functional microorganisms. This study provides more information on the relationship between soil nutrients, functional genes of microorganisms, and tea quality under tea/legume intercropping systems in tea plantations and offers a basis for the higher-performance intercropping pattern. Full article