Effect of cereal-legume intercrops on the soil enzymatic activity

Abstract

Sowing and harvesting cereals with legumes is an old crop production practice. The main goal of cultivation is to make the best use of the area and to increase the quality and yield of the crops. The intercropping of cereals and legumes can stimulate the biological activity of the soil, thus increasing the recycling of soil organic matter. Competition between two or more plants has a positive effect on the nitrogen fixation of legumes. In organic form the soil enzyme activity increasing is more effective which is provided by the winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) in this crop production system. We set up our experiment at the experimental sites of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Plant Production and Agrotechnical Research Station, Szeged-Öthalom and Fülöpszállás in 2020/2021. The experiments were performed on 10 m2 plots, in four replicates, with four cereals and one winter pea species, in different phenological phases. We were used fluorescein diacetate to determine the total microbial activity of the soil. As the phenophases progress, the enzymatic activity of the soil decreases, and activity is affected by soil type. The soil enzyme activity was lower on meadow chernozem soil and higher on calcareous meadow soil. Cereal-legume intercrop systems are better able to adapt to drought. The values are higher in cereal-legume intercropping system than in cereals sowed alone. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the enzymatic activity of the soil can be increased by using soil inoculation with bacteria and mycorrhiza fungi preparations.

Effects of Winter Cereals (Triticum aestivum L., Hordeum vulgare L., Triticosecale Wittmack) and Winter Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Intercropping on Weed Cover in South-Eastern and Central Hungary

“…This cropping practice is based on a multispecies system that exploits synergistic effects between plants [3,4]. The main aim of this cultivation method is to make the best possible use of light, nutrients and the area [6,7]. The crops used in intercropping are morphologically diverse, so they adapt to climatic conditions better than individually grown plants [8].…”

“…The crops used in intercropping are morphologically diverse, so they adapt to climatic conditions better than individually grown plants [8]. Cereal-legume intercropping systems allow lower inputs which reduce the environmental impact of agriculture [7,9]. Intercropping systems provide many ecosystem services, including the control of soil erosion, carbon sequestration, the regulation of water infiltration, a reduction in nutrient leaching, the improvement of nutrient availability, the degradation of agrochemicals, an increase in biodiversity, the attraction of pollinators and a reduction in pests and weeds [10][11][12][13].…”