Exploring the role of intercrops in enhancing soil enzyme activities and nutrient cycling in maize cultivation: A four-year field study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00027073%3A_____%2F25%3AN0000066" target="_blank" >RIV/00027073:_____/25:N0000066 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/26788462:_____/25:N0000061 RIV/62156489:43210/25:43927220 RIV/26296080:_____/25:N0000060

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016719872500282X" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016719872500282X</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2025.106728" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.still.2025.106728</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Exploring the role of intercrops in enhancing soil enzyme activities and nutrient cycling in maize cultivation: A four-year field study

Original language description

Undersowing cash crops with intercrops offers significant benefits for soil health and crop production. In response to the growing interest in maize undersowing, a four-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of various undersown intercrops, including grasses, cereals, and legumes, on microbial transformation and mineralization activities as well as the balance of these processes in relation to nutrient uptake and availability for plants and soil microbes. The study demonstrated that undersowing maize in strips had a positive effect on biological soil properties. The enhancement of soil enzyme activities involved in nutrient transformation varied depending on the soil properties and climatic conditions in each of monitored years (2020-2023), and the type of intercrop used. The most significant changes in nutrient fluxes in the topsoil, as evidenced by C, N, P, S mineralizing enzymes and their microbial nutrient acquisition ratios, were observed in plots undersown with phacelia, crimson clover and perennial ryegrass. These changes were closely linked to the presence of intercropped plants and were not observed in the control interrows of the maize pure stand. Undersowing was associated with increased nitrogen acquisition ratios (indicating higher demand for mineral nitrogen), as well as elevated activities of nitrogen-transforming (urease) and carbon-transforming (dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase) enzymes. All undersown treatments also enhanced phosphorus- and sulphur-mineralizing activities, in contrast to the maize, which pure stand exhibited reduced activity related to these nutrients. Despite these improvements in soil biological properties, the enhancement did not translate into increased maize biomass for silage or grain yield. Nonetheless, the study underscores the potential of maize undersowing with intercrops in strips to improve soil fertility and nutrient cycling, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40104 - Soil science

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH

ISSN

0167-1987

e-ISSN

1879-3444

Volume of the periodical

254

Issue of the periodical within the volume

December 2025

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

106728

UT code for WoS article

001527049400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105009532921