Ahmad Munir, Zhao Tilei, Gitari Harun, Zhao Hongmin, Tang Li
College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
College of Resources and Environmental Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Mar 29;14(7):1060. doi: 10.3390/plants14071060.
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.
全球粮食需求不断增加、三分之一的农业用地退化以及气候变化对粮食生产构成了重大威胁。玉米和大豆间作可以提高产量和土地利用效率，但连续多年间作对产量、产量可持续性和磷利用效率（PUE）的影响仍不明确。本研究评估了连续多年的玉米/大豆间作对产量、PUE和可持续性的影响。在酸性土壤上进行了为期七年（2017 - 2023年）的田间试验，比较了两种种植系统：玉米单作和玉米与大豆间作。结果表明，在所有年份间隔中，连续玉米/大豆间作的表现均优于玉米单作。在第一年、第三年和第七年间隔中，玉米产量分别增加了37%、35%和58%，七年间平均增幅为55%。间作还提高了磷的利用效率，农学效率（AE）、回收效率（RE）、磷肥偏生产力（PFP）和作物磷素积累量（CPF）的增加证明了这一点。在第一年，AE、PFP、RE和CPF分别增加了48%、37%、27%和16%；在第三年间隔后，这些指标分别提高了40%、35%、26%和14%；在第七年间隔后，它们分别上升了60%、58%、24%和10.5%。七年间AE、RE和PFP的平均增幅分别为53%、52%和27%，而CPF增加了13%。结构方程模型（SEM）分析进一步证实了第七年间作间隔对玉米产量、可持续性和PUE的重大影响。本研究表明，连续玉米/大豆间作可以提高玉米产量、PUE和可持续性，其中第七年间隔带来的效益最为显著。这些发现为应对粮食安全和养分管理挑战提供了有价值的见解。
