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Background and Aims <p>Sustainable intensification of agriculture is essential for improving soil health and productivity in the face of limited resources. Intercropping, particularly cereal-legume systems, offers potential benefits for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and nutrient cycling. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Wheat-Berseem strip intercropping on various SOC pools, soil biochemical properties, plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake, with a focus on its potential for improving carbon sequestration and land use efficiency.</p> Method <p>A two-year field experiment was conducted with three treatments: sole Wheat, sole Berseem, and Wheat-Berseem strip intercropping system. Soil samples and plant data were analyzed for SOC fractions, microbial biomass, nitrogen forms, plant growth, yield, and nutrient concentrations. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and Pearson’s correlation were applied to assess treatment effects.</p> Results <p>The intercropping system significantly improved all SOC fractions, with microbial biomass carbon increasing from 201.33 to 206.33&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg⁻<sup>1</sup> and total organic carbon (TOC) from 7.05 to 7.18&#xa0;g&#xa0;kg⁻<sup>1</sup> over two years. It also enhanced soil organic matter (13% in both years), microbial populations (39% in Year I and 56% in Year II), and nitrogen availability (8% in Year I and 10% in Year II). Despite slightly reduced individual crop yields, the land equivalent ratio (LER) exceeded 1.3, indicating better land use efficiency. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissues were also higher in the intercropping system.</p> Conclusion <p>This study highlights Wheat-Berseem intercropping as a promising agroecological approach that improves SOC sequestration, nutrient dynamics, and resource use efficiency, supporting long-term soil fertility and sustainable crop production.</p>

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Wheat-Berseem intercropping system enhances soil fertility, carbon sequestration and crop productivity under nutrient-deficient conditions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月27日

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  • Zafar Iqbal,
  • Sundas Bilal,
  • Sana ur Rehman,
  • Imran Haider,
  • Maryam Saeed,
  • Maqshoof Ahmad,
  • Muhammad Ali Raza,
  • Mehraj A. Abbasov,
  • Walid Soufan

摘要

Background and Aims

Sustainable intensification of agriculture is essential for improving soil health and productivity in the face of limited resources. Intercropping, particularly cereal-legume systems, offers potential benefits for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and nutrient cycling. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Wheat-Berseem strip intercropping on various SOC pools, soil biochemical properties, plant growth, yield, and nutrient uptake, with a focus on its potential for improving carbon sequestration and land use efficiency.

Method

A two-year field experiment was conducted with three treatments: sole Wheat, sole Berseem, and Wheat-Berseem strip intercropping system. Soil samples and plant data were analyzed for SOC fractions, microbial biomass, nitrogen forms, plant growth, yield, and nutrient concentrations. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and Pearson’s correlation were applied to assess treatment effects.

Results

The intercropping system significantly improved all SOC fractions, with microbial biomass carbon increasing from 201.33 to 206.33 mg kg⁻1 and total organic carbon (TOC) from 7.05 to 7.18 g kg⁻1 over two years. It also enhanced soil organic matter (13% in both years), microbial populations (39% in Year I and 56% in Year II), and nitrogen availability (8% in Year I and 10% in Year II). Despite slightly reduced individual crop yields, the land equivalent ratio (LER) exceeded 1.3, indicating better land use efficiency. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissues were also higher in the intercropping system.

Conclusion

This study highlights Wheat-Berseem intercropping as a promising agroecological approach that improves SOC sequestration, nutrient dynamics, and resource use efficiency, supporting long-term soil fertility and sustainable crop production.