Effect of species diversity levels and microbial consortium on biomass production, net economic gain, and fertility of marginal land

Abstract

Increasing the income of crop growers per unit area and restoring the fertility of marginal soils are major challenges of agricultural sustainability in the Indian agrarian economy. This study investigates the benefits of plant communities consisting of Indian licorice (Abrus precatorius L.), stevia (Stevia rebaudiana B.), chilli (Capsicum annum L.), and a microbial consortium of four plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi (Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus firmus, Aspergillus luchuensis, and Aspergillus tamarii) on production of plant biomass, income of growers, and its ability to improve soil fertility over a 2 year period. The three crop species were planted in all possible groupings at one, two, and three species diversity levels with three replication and two treatments, that is, with plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) and without PGPM. The maximum increases in biomass (6.8 mega gram ha À1 ) and aboveground carbon sequestration (3.2 mega gram ha À1 ) were found for the three species diversity level of LSC (Indian licorice-stevia-chilli) plus PGPM. The highest belowground carbon sequestration (35 mega gram ha À1 ) and maximum soil fertility benefits [for example, pH (1.16-times), electrical conductivity (7.53-times), bulk density (1.84-times), soil total organic carbon (3.99-times), available nitrogen (5.95-times), dehydrogenase (6.16-times), microbial biomass carbon (4.06-times), and colony-forming units (4.44-times)] were recorded at the two species diversity level of LC (Indian licoricechilli) with and without PGPM, compared with the soil properties before cultivation of these plants/additives. The highest net income (9.9 Lac ha À1 yr À2 ) was estimated for the two species diversity level (LS) plus addition of PGPM.

Peanut/sorghum intercropping drives specific variation in peanut rhizosphere soil properties and microbiomes under salt stress

“…Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens, and animal pathogens exhibited higher proportions in S-SP than in S-IP, whereas soil saprotrophs, undefined saprotrophs, and dung saprotrophs were more numerous in S-IP than in S-SP (Figure 8f). In intercropping systems, plants directly or indirectly control and influence the changes in soil properties (Mishra & Singh, 2022). In this study, N-IP exhibited the highest TN, TP, AK, and SOC content in rhizosphere soil, with the SOC content the most pronounced (Figure 1).…”

“…In intercropping systems, plants directly or indirectly control and influence the changes in soil properties (Mishra & Singh, 2022). In this study, N‐IP exhibited the highest TN, TP, AK, and SOC content in rhizosphere soil, with the SOC content the most pronounced (Figure 1).…”

Land degradation and development in India: Status quo, challenges and opportunities

“…The cultivation of diverse crops and applying microbial consortium has received the attention of many researchers as this can offer multiple services and resilience to ecosystems (Awasthi et al, 2014; Awasthi et al, 2017). A study by Mishra and Singh (2022) investigated ecological (above and belowground biomass and carbon sequestration) and economic (income) benefits of designing diverse and novel cropping models with application of consortium of plant growth‐promoting bacteria and fungi. The results indicate two species richness level produced highest carbon sequestration (37 Mg ha −1 ) and were economically profitable with 0.99 million Indian rupee ha −1 yr −2 return (Mishra & Singh, 2022).…”

“…A study by Mishra and Singh (2022) investigated ecological (above and belowground biomass and carbon sequestration) and economic (income) benefits of designing diverse and novel cropping models with application of consortium of plant growth‐promoting bacteria and fungi. The results indicate two species richness level produced highest carbon sequestration (37 Mg ha −1 ) and were economically profitable with 0.99 million Indian rupee ha −1 yr −2 return (Mishra & Singh, 2022).…”