Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intercropping maintains soil fertility in terms of chemical properties and enzyme activities on a timescale of one decade

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Overyielding (i.e., mixtures of crops yielding higher than expected when compared with monocultures) and increased nutrient acquisition have been found in many intercropping systems. However, there are very few published studies on long-term changes in soil chemical and biological properties in intercropping systems compared to sole cropping.

Methods

A field experiment was established in 2003 in Gansu province, northwest China. The treatments comprised three intercropping systems (either continuous or rotational wheat/maize, wheat/faba bean, maize/faba bean intercropping), rotational cropping (wheat-maize, wheat-faba bean, faba bean-maize, and wheat-maize-faba bean rotations), and monocropping (sole wheat, faba bean and maize) systems. In 2011 (ninth year of the experiment) and 2012 (tenth year) the yields and some soil chemical and biological properties were examined after all crop species were harvested.

Results

There was overyielding by 6.6 % and 32.4 % in wheat/maize intercropping in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Faba bean/maize intercropping was enhanced by 34.7 % and 28.6 %, respectively but not wheat/faba bean intercropping. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen, Olsen P, exchangeable K and cation exchange capacity in all intercropping systems did not differ from the monocultures except for soil pH in wheat/maize and faba bean/maize intercropping in 2011 and soil exchangeable K and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in 2012. Soil pH in wheat/maize and faba bean/maize intercropping was significantly reduced by 3.2 % and 1.9 %, respectively. Soil exchangeable K in wheat/maize, faba bean/maize and wheat/faba bean intercropping declined markedly by 15 %, 21.7 % and 12.1 %, respectively. Soil cation exchange capacity in wheat/maize, faba bean/maize and wheat/faba bean intercropping was notably lower than the corresponding monocultures by 17.5 %, 23.3 % and 18.3 %, respectively. Soil enzyme activities after 9 and 10 years of intercropping differed little from monocultures or rotations.

Conclusions

The results indicate that intercropping overyielded compared with monocropping or rotational cropping and also maintained the stability of most of the soil chemical and enzyme activities relative to rotations and monocropping in the relatively fertile soil studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

OM:

organic matter

TN:

total nitrogen

CEC:

cation exchange capacity

M:

monoculture or monocropping

R:

rotation

Inter (C):

continuous intercropping

Inter (R):

rotational intercropping

W + M:

wheat and maize combination

F + M:

faba bean and maize combination

W + F:

wheat and faba bean combination

LER:

land equivalent ratio

References

  • Ae N, Arihara J, Okada K, Yoshihara T, Johansen C (1990) Phosphorus uptake by pigeonpea and its role in cropping systems of the Indian subcontinent. Science 248:477–480

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alvear M, Rosas A, Rouanet JL, Borie F (2005) Effects of three soil tillage systems on some biological activities in an Ultisol from southern Chile. Soil Till Res 82:195–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade JF, Cerrudo A, Rizzalli RH, Monzon JP (2012) Sunflower-soybean Intercrop productivity under different water conditions and sowing managements. Agron J 104:1049–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aulakh MS, Pasricha NS, Bahl GS (2003) Phosphorus fertilizer response in an irrigated soybean-wheat production system on a subtropical, semiarid soil. Field Crops Res 80:99–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baligar V, Staley T, Wright R (1991) Enzyme activities in Appalachian soils: 2. Urease. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 22:315–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baligar VC, Wright RJ, Hern JL (2005) Enzyme activities in soil influenced by levels of applied sulfur and phosphorus. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 36:1727–1735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bao SD (2000) Analysis on soil and agricultural chemistry (in Chinese). China Agricultural Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthrong ST, Jobbágy EG, Jackson RB (2009) A global meta-analysis of soil exchangeable cations, pH, carbon, and nitrogen with afforestation. Ecol Appl 19:2228–2241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blaise D, Bonde AN, Chaudhary RS (2005) Nutrient uptake and balance of cotton + pigeonpea strip intercropping on rainfed Vertisols of central India. Nutr Cycl Agroecosys 73:135–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burns RG (1978) Enzyme activity in soil: some theoretical and practical considerations. Soil enzymes Academic Press, New York, pp 295–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen BM, Wang ZH, Li SX, Wang GX, Song HX, Wang XN (2004) Effects of nitrate supply on plant growth, nitrate accumulation, metabolic nitrate concentration and nitrate reductase activity in three leafy vegetables. Plant Sci 167:635–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cong WF, Hoffland E, Li L, Six J, Sun JH, Bao XG, Zhang FS, Van Der Werf W (2014) Intercropping enhances soil carbon and nitrogen. Global Change Biol doi: 10.1111/gcb.12738

  • Conn C, Dighton J (2000) Litter quality influences on decomposition, ectomycorrhizal community structure and mycorrhizal root surface acid phosphatase activity. Soil Biol Biochem 32:489–496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahmardeh M, Ghanbari A, Syahsar B, Ramrodi M (2010) The role of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) on yield and soil chemical properties. Afr J Agr Res 5:631–636

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakora FD, Phillips DA (2002) Root exudates as mediators of mineral acquisition in low-nutrient environments. Plant Soil 245:35–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Carvalho LM, Nunes MUC, de Oliveira IR (2009) Yield of tomato in monocrop and intercropping with aromatics plants. Hortic Bras 27:458–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dick W, Cheng L, Wang P (2000) Soil acid and alkaline phosphatase activity as pH adjustment indicators. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1915–1919

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doran JW (2002) Soil health and global sustainability: translating science into practice. Agr Ecosyst Environ 88:119–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dybzinski R, Fargione JE, Zak DR, Fornara D, Tilman D (2008) Soil fertility increases with plant species diversity in a long-term biodiversity experiment. Oecologia 158:85–93

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eskandari H (2011) Intercropping of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and bean (Vicia faba): effects of complementarity and competition of intercrop components in resource consumption on dry matter production and weed growth. Afr J Biotechnol 10:17755–17762

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO/UNESCO. (1988) FAO/UNESCO Soil map of the world, 1:5,000,000 Vol. 1 Paris: UNESCO

  • Fornara DA, Tilman D (2008) Plant functional composition influences rates of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation. J Ecol 96:314–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fornara DA, Tilman D, Hobbie SE (2009) Linkages between plant functional composition, fine root processes and potential soil N mineralization rates. J Ecol 97:48–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fortin MC, Culley J, Edwards M (1994) Soil water, plant growth, and yield of strip-intercropped corn. J Sci Food Agr 7:63–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis CA (1986) Multiple cropping systems. Macmillan Publishing Company pp 383

  • Francis CA (1989) Biological efficiencies in multiple-cropping systems. Adv Agron 42:42

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberger WT Jr, Johanson JB (1983) Factors affecting invertase activity in soils. Plant Soil 74:313–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu MH, Tabatabai MA (1989) Nitrate reductase activity in soils: effects of trace elements. Soil Biol Biochem 21:943–946

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh PK, Mohanty M, Bandyopadhyay KK, Painuli DK, Misra AK (2006) Growth, competition, yields advantage and economics in soybean/pigeonpea intercropping system in semi-arid tropics of India. Field Crop Res 96:90–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregorich EG, Drury CF, Baldock JA (2001) Changes in soil carbon under long-term maize in monoculture and legume-based rotation. Can J Soil Sci 81:21–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gt E, Hageman R (1973) Nitrate reductase activity and its relationship to accumulation of vegetative and grain nitrogen in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Crop Sci 13:59–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan SY (1986) Soil enzyme and research method (in Chinese). China Agricultural Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Hageman RH, Flesher D, Gitter A (1961) Diurnal variation and other light effects influencing the activity of nitrate reductase and nitrogen metabolism in corn. Crop Sci 1:201–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Jensen ES (2001) Evaluating pea and barley cultivars for complementarity in intercropping at different levels of soil N availability. Field Crop Res 72:185–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes RJ, Williams PH (1999) Influence of stock camping behaviour on the soil microbiological and biochemical properties of grazed pastoral soils. Biol Fert Soils 28:253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P, Granström A, Johansson T, Lundmark-Thelin A, Näsholm T (1986) Plant nitrate reductase activity as an indicator of availability of nitrate in forest soils. Can J For Res 16:1165–1169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2003) SAS. 9.1 ed. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc

  • Jensen ES (1996) Grain yield, symbiotic N2 fixation and interspecific competition for inorganic N in pea-barley intercrops. Plant Soil 182:25–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen ES, Hauggaard-Nielsen H (2003) How can increased use of biological N2 fixation in agriculture benefit the environment? Plant Soil 252:177–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karlen DL, Mausbach MJ, Doran JW, Cline RG, Harris RF, Schuman GE (1997) Soil quality: a concept, definition, and framework for evaluation (a guest editorial). Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:4–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keating BA, Carberry PS (1993) Resource capture and use in intercropping: solar radiation. Field Crops Res 34:273–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köpke U, Nemecek T (2010) Ecological services of faba bean. Field Crops Res 115:217–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leihner DE (1983) Management and evaluation of intercropping systems with cassava. Centro International of Agricultura Tropical, Cali

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesoing GW, Francis CA (1999) Strip intercropping of corn-soybean in irrigated and rainfed environments. J Sci Food Agr 12:187–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Sun J, Zhang F, Li X, Yang S, Rengel Z (2001a) Wheat/maize or wheat/soybean strip intercropping: I. Yield advantage and interspecific interactions on nutrients. Field Crops Res 71:123–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Sun J, Zhang F, Li X, Rengel Z, Yang S (2001b) Wheat/maize or wheat/soybean strip intercropping: II. Recovery or compensation of maize and soybean after wheat harvesting. Field Crop Res 71:173–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li WX, Li L, Sun JH, Zhang FS, Christie P (2003) Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and intercropping on uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by wheat, maize, and faba bean. J Plant Nutr 26:629–642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Li L, Zhang F, Tang C (2004) Acid phosphatase role in chickpea/maize intercropping. Ann Bot 94:297–303

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Sun JH, Zhang FS, Guo TW, Bao XG, Smith FA, Smith SE (2006) Root distribution and interactions between intercropped species. Oecologia 147:280–290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Li SM, Sun JH, Zhou LL, Bao XG, Zhang HG, Zhang FS (2007) Diversity enhances agricultural productivity via rhizosphere phosphorus facilitation on phosphorus-deficient soils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:11192–11196

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li CJ, Li YY, Yu CB, Sun JH, Christie P, An M, Zhang FS, Li L (2011a) Crop nitrogen use and soil mineral nitrogen accumulation under different crop combinations and patterns of strip intercropping in northwest China. Plant Soil 342:221–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li QZ, Sun JH, Wei XJ, Christie P, Zhang FS, Li L (2011b) Overyielding and interspecific interactions mediated by nitrogen fertilization in strip intercropping of maize with faba bean, wheat and barley. Plant Soil 339:147–161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López-Bellido L, López-Bellido RJ, Redondo R, Benítez J (2006) Faba bean nitrogen fixation in a wheat-based rotation under rainfed Mediterranean conditions: effect of tillage system. Field Crops Res 98:253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma RX (2000) Effects of allelochemicals on activity of nitrate reductase. J Environ Sci 2:125–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Madari B, Machado PLOA, Torres E, de Andrade AG, Valencia LIO (2005) No tillage and crop rotation effects on soil aggregation and organic carbon in a Rhodic Ferralsol from southern Brazil. Soil Till Res 80:185–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mäder P, Fliessbach A, Dubois D, Gunst L, Fried P, Niggli U (2002) Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296:1694–1697

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Makinde E, Oluwatoyinbo F, Ayoola O (2006) Intercropping and crop residue incorporation: effects on soil nutrient status. J Plant Nutri 29:235–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin RC, Astatkie T, Cooper JM (1998) The effect of soybean variety on corn-soybean intercrop biomass and protein yields. Can J Plant Sci 78:289–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mei PP, Gui LG, Wang P, Huang JC, Long HY, Christie P, Li L (2012) Maize/faba bean intercropping with rhizobia inoculation enhances productivity and recovery of fertilizer P in a reclaimed desert soil. Field Crops Res 130:19–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melero S, Porras JCR, Herencia JF, Madejon E (2006) Chemical and biochemical properties in a silty loam soil under conventional and organic management. Soil Till Res 90:162–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melero S, Madejon E, Ruiz JC, Herencia JF (2007) Chemical and biochemical properties of a clay soil under dryland agriculture system as affected by organic fertilization. Eur J Agron 26:327–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mondal SS, Ghosh A, Acharya D, Mait D (2004) Production potential and economics of different rainfed rice (Oryza sativa)-based utera cropping systems and its effect on fertility build up of soil. Indian J Agron 49:6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Morari F, Lugato E, Giardini L (2008) Olsen phosphorus, exchangeable cations and salinity in two long-term experiments of north-eastern Italy and assessment of soil quality evolution. Agr Ecosyst Environ 124:85–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris RA, Garrity DP (1993a) Resource capture and utilization in intercropping non-nitrogen nutrients. Field Crops Res 34:319–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris RA, Garrity DP (1993b) Resource capture and utilization in intercropping: water. Field Crops Res 34:303–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mucheru-Muna M, Pypers P, Mugendi D, Kung’u J, Mugwe J, Merckx R, Vanlauwe B (2010) A staggered maize–legume intercrop arrangement robustly increases crop yields and economic returns in the highlands of Central Kenya. Field Crops Res 115:132–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS, Dean LA (1954) Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate, USDA. Circular939. US Government Printing Office, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrino E, Di Bene C, Tozzini C, Bonari E (2011) Impact on soil quality of a 10-year-old short-rotation coppice poplar stand compared with intensive agricultural and uncultivated systems in a Mediterranean area. Agr Ecosyst Environ 140:245–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi ZP, Rao IM, Ricaurte J, Amézquita E, Sanz JI, Kerridge PC (2004) Root distribution and nutrient uptake in crop-forage systems on Andean hillsides. J Sustain Agr 23:39–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods. Inkata Press Pty Ltd, Australia, pp 89–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter E (2007) Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in volcanic soils following afforestation with native birch (Betula pubescens) and introduced larch (Larix sibirica) in Iceland. Plant Soil 295:239–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roldan A, Salinas-Garcia JR, Alguacil MM, Caravaca F (2007) Soil sustainability indicators following conservation tillage practices under subtropical maize and bean crops. Soil Till Res 93:273–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross DJ (1983) Invertase and amylase activities as influenced by clay minerals, soil-clay fractions and topsoils under grassland. Soil Biol Biochem 15:287–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross DS, Matschonat G, Skyllberg U (2008) Cation exchange in forest soils: the need for a new perspective. Eur J Soil Sci 59:1141–1159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rusinamhodzi L, Corbeels M, Nyamangara J, Giller KE (2012) Maize-grain legume intercropping is an attractive option for ecological intensification that reduces climatic risk for smallholder farmers in central Mozambique. Field Crops Res 136:12–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saikh H, Varadachari C, Ghosh K (1998) Effects of deforestation and cultivation on soil CEC and contents of exchangeable bases: a case study in Simlipal national park, India. Plant Soil 204:175–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarapatka B, Krskova M (1997) Interactions between phosphatase activity and soil characteristics from some locations in the Czech Republic. Rostlinna Vyroba-UZPI 43

  • Šimek M, Jíšová L, Hopkins DW (2002) What is the so-called optimum pH for denitrification in soil? Soil Biol Biochem 34:1227–1234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh DK, Kumar S (2008) Nitrate reductase, arginine deaminase, urease and dehydrogenase activities in natural soil (ridges with forest) and in cotton soil after acetamiprid treatments. Chemosphere 71:412–418

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuelpnagel R (1992) Intercropping of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) with oats or spring wheat. In: Proceedings of the International Crop Science Congress, p 44

  • Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1969) Use of p-nitrophenyl phosphate for assay of soil phosphatase activity. Soil Biol Biochem 1:301–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang C, Barton L, McLay CDA (1997) A comparison of proton excretion of twelve pasture legumes grown in nutrient solution. Anim Prod Sci 37:563–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thierfelder C, Wall PC (2012) Effects of conservation agriculture on soil quality and productivity in contrasting agro-ecological environments of Zimbabwe. Soil Use Manage 28:209–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venterea RT, Rolston DE (2000) Mechanisms and kinetics of nitric and nitrous oxide production during nitrification in agricultural soil. Global Change Biol 6:303–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XC, Yang WY, Ren WJ, Deng XY, Zhang Q, Xiang DB, Yong TW (2012) Study on the differences in yield and nutrient absorption of maize in wheat/maize/soybean and wheat/maize/sweet potato relay intercropping systems. Plant Nutr Fert Sci 18:803–812

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Hao M, Shao M, Gale WJ (2006) Changes in soil properties and the availability of soil micronutrients after 18 years of cropping and fertilization. Soil Till Res 91:120–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia HY, Zhao JH, Sun JH, Xue YF, Eagling T, Bao XG, Zhang FS, Li L (2013) Maize grain concentrations and above-ground shoot acquisition of micronutrients as affected by intercropping with turnip, faba bean, chickpea, and soybean. Science China-Life Sciences 56:823–834

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang WT, Li Z, Wang JW, Wu P, Zhang Y (2013) Crop yield, nitrogen acquisition and sugarcane quality as affected by interspecific competition and nitrogen application. Field Crops Res 146:44–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yong TW, Yang WY, Xiang DB, Zhu ZY (2012a) Effect of wheat/maize/soybean and wheat/maize/sweet potato relay strip intercropping on bacterial community diversity of rhizosphere soil and nitrogen uptake of crops. Acta Agron Sin 38:333–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yong TW, Yang WY, Xiang DB, Chen XR, Wan Y (2012b) Production and N nutrient performance of wheat-maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system and evaluation of interspecies competition. Acta Prataculturae Sinica 21:50–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang FS, Li L (2003) Using competitive and facilitative interactions in intercropping systems enhances crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency. Plant Soil 248:305–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zomer RJ, Trabucco A, Coe R, Place F (2009) Trees on farm: analysis of global extent and geographical patterns of agroforestry. ICRAF Working Paper-World Agroforestry Centre,p 89

  • Zou CY, Li ZJ (2002) Intercropping and relay intercropping. In: Shi YC (ed) Chinese academic canon in the 20th century: agriculture (in Chinese). Fujian Education Press, Fuzhou

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Project No. 2011CB100405) and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (Project Nos. 2012BAD14B04 and 2012BAD14B10). We thank Messrs, Wen-yu Yang and Quan-fu Li for their assistance with fieldwork. The authors also thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments toward improving an earlier version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Zhi-gang Wang, Xiao-fei Li, Xin Jin, Peter Christie & Long Li

  2. Institute of Soils, Fertilizers and Water-Saving Agriculture, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730070, China

    Xing-guo Bao, Jian-hua Zhao & Jian-hao Sun

Authors
  1. Zhi-gang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xing-guo Bao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiao-fei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xin Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jian-hua Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jian-hao Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Peter Christie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Long Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Long Li.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Martin Weih.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Zg., Bao, Xg., Li, Xf. et al. Intercropping maintains soil fertility in terms of chemical properties and enzyme activities on a timescale of one decade. Plant Soil 391, 265–282 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2428-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2428-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation