Summary
This 2-year field experiment on low-fertility soils demonstrates that combining legume-cereal intercropping (maize-cowpea) with multi-nutrient enriched compost (NPKEC) fertilisation substantially enhances both crop yields and soil carbon sequestration compared to monoculture or single-input fertilisation approaches. The intercropping system with NPKEC achieved the highest soil carbon sequestration rate (0.30 Mg C/ha yr⁻¹) and greatest increases in both labile and stable soil carbon pools, whilst simultaneously delivering grain yield advantages for both crops over monocultures.
Regional applicability
This study was conducted in Pakistan on low-fertility soils with a semi-arid climate, which differs substantially from United Kingdom conditions. However, the findings on integrated organic-inorganic fertilisation and intercropping benefits may have some transferability to UK marginal or degraded soils, particularly where soil carbon restoration is a priority. Local adaptation trials would be needed to assess feasibility under UK rainfall and temperature regimes.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon sequestration (Mg C/ha yr⁻¹), biomass yield (t/ha), grain yield (t/ha), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), particulate organic carbon (PAOC), redundancy analysis of soil properties
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil organic carbon sequestration rates, biomass and grain yields of maize and cowpea under monoculture and intercropping systems, and characterised soil carbon pools (mineral-associated and particulate organic carbon) under different fertilisation regimes.
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