The potential of corn-soybean intercropping to improve the soil health status and biomass production in cool climate boreal ecosystems

Abstract

Intercropping (IC) is a promising approach used to improve soil health and sustainable crop production. However, it is unknown whether IC improve the soil health status and biomass productivity of crops cultivated in podzols under cool climate in boreal ecosystems. Two silage corn and three forage soybean genotypes were cultivated either as inter or monocrop (MC) treatments in a randomized complete block design. IC resulted in 28% increase in total forage production (FP). A reduction in rhizosphere soil pH (RS-pH) was observed in the IC treatments. Conversely, the rhizosphere soil acid phosphatase (RS-APase) activity was significantly higher (26–46%) in the IC treatments and occurred concomitant with a significant increase in available phosphorus (RS-Pavailable) (26–74%) in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, IC enhanced the active microbial composition and strong positive correlations were observed between RS-Pavailable, RS-APase, microbial biomass and FP; while RS-pH was negatively correlated with FP, RS-APase and RS-Pavailable. These findings suggested silage corn intercropped with forage soybean could be a viable approach to enhance FP through improved active microbial community structure, RS-APase activity and RS-Pavailable when cultivated on podzols in cool climate boreal ecosystem.

Assessment of Diazotrophic Proteobacteria in Sugarcane Rhizosphere When Intercropped With Legumes (Peanut and Soybean) in the Field

“…However, in the present study, we found that the intercropping system did not cause any negative impact on cane growth and yield (Supplementary Figure S6). Hauggaard-Nielsen et al (2012) and Zaeem et al (2019) reported that intercropping crops boosts the soil nutrients. These reports help us to infer that intercropping promote direct and indirect benefits for sugarcane plants which may be associated with actions of different soil microbes to solubilize minerals and protect the plant from pathogens.…”

Corn-Soybean Intercropping Improved the Nutritional Quality of Forage Cultivated on Podzols in Boreal Climate

“…Kester's Bob White (S3) is a trailing (vine type) soybean variety obtained from the Department of Agriculture, USA, whereas S1 and S2 are upright varieties sourced from Delaware State University, USA. The forage soybean varieties were selected because of their high biomass production capabilities (upright varieties can grow up to 10 ft); Kester's Bob White is a trailing (vine type) variety that can reach up to 20 ft. None of these crop varieties and combinations have ever been assessed in boreal climates or on podzols prior to our work [40]. The crop was sown on 20 June and 30 May in 2016 and 2017 [40].…”

Growth Response of Edamame Soybean Intercropped with Sweet Corn at Different Planting Dates

“…The intercropping pattern is very suitable for increasing productivity on marginal agricultural lands or with relatively low fertility levels (Permanasari and Kastono, 2012;Midega et al, 2014). The cropping pattern of sweet corn intercropping with edamame soybeans has several advantages such as increased land productivity (Lithourgidis et al, 2011), land use efficiency (Wu and Wu, 2014), increased soil fertility, especially nitrogen (Zhang et al, 2015), reduce the risk of crop failure due to pest attacks, produce more diverse crop products (Aisyah and Herlina, 2018;Zaeem et al, 2019), and increase the yield and land equal ratio (Edy et al, 2011).…”