Summary
This field trial investigates the effects of 12 years of maize-peanut intercropping, with and without phosphorus fertilisation, on soil physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties and crop productivity. Findings suggest that intercropping improved soil aggregate stability, clay content, and gas phase ratio whilst reducing pH and electrical conductivity, with phosphorus application providing further improvements to soil physical properties. The study contributes evidence on how long-term intercropping systems can modify soil surface electrochemical characteristics relevant to nutrient availability and soil structure.
UK applicability
This study is conducted under Chinese agricultural conditions and cropping systems not directly replicated in the UK; however, the broader findings on intercropping benefits for soil structure and aggregate stability are relevant to UK research on diversified arable systems and sustainable phosphorus management.
Key measures
Soil aggregate stability; soil pH; electrical conductivity (EC); clay content; gas phase ratio; soil surface electrochemical properties; crop yield (maize and peanut)
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties (including aggregate stability, pH, electrical conductivity, clay content, and gas phase ratio) alongside crop yield under sole-crop and intercropping treatments with and without phosphorus application over a 12-year period.
Topic tags
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