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The intercropping cowpea-maize improves soil phosphorus availability and maize yields in an alkaline soil

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Abstract

Aim

This study assessed whether growing cowpea can increase phosphorus (P) availability in the rhizosphere and improve the yield of legume-cereal systems. In alkaline Mediterranean soils with P deficiency, it is assumed that legumes increase inorganic P availability.

Methods

A field experiment was conducted at the Staoueli experimental station, in Algiers province, Algeria, to compare the growth, grain yield, P availability, and P uptake by plants with sole-cropped cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. cv. Moh Ouali) and maize (Zea mays L. cv. ILT), intercropped cowpea-maize, and fallow.

Results

P availability in the rhizosphere was increased in both sole cropping and intercropping systems compared with fallow. It was highest in intercropping. The increase in P availability was associated with (i) significant pH changes of the rhizosphere of cowpea in sole cropping and intercropping systems, with the rhizosphere acidification significantly higher in intercropping (−0.73 units) than in sole cropping (−0.42 units); (ii) significant increase in the rhizosphere pH of intercropped maize (+0.49 units) compared to fallow; (iii) increased soil respiration (C-CO2 from microbial and root activity) in intercropping compared with sole cropping and fallow; and (iv) higher efficiency in utilization of the rhizobial symbiosis in intercropping than in sole-cropped cowpea.

Conclusion

With cowpea-maize intercropping, cowpea increased the P uptake, by increasing the P availability by rhizosphere pH changes in an alkaline soil. Overall, this study showed that intercropping cowpea improved the plant biomass and grain yield of maize in this soil.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Great Federative Project FABATROPIMED of Agropolis Foundation, Montpellier, France, under the reference ID 1001–009 and the joint project AUF-PCSI 59113PS012 and the laboratory of (ENSA) d’Algerie in cooperation with “Institut Technique des Cultures Maraîchères et Industrielles” (ITCMI) in the Staouli region. We would like to thank the “Laboratoire des resources phytogénétiques et des biotechnologies végétales” of ENSA for providing the maize cultivar (ILT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de phytotechnie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, Hassan Badi, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria

    M. Latati & S. M. Ounane

  2. UMR Eco&Sols, IRD, 1 place Pierre Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

    D. Blavet & M. Pansu

  3. Faculté des Sciences Biologiques et des Sciences Agronomiques, Département des Sciences Agronomiques, Université de Mouloud Mammeri, TiziOuzou, Algeria

    N. Alkama

  4. Département agronomie, Université de Bachir El Ibrahimi, Bordj Bou Arérridj, Algeria

    M. Latati & H. Laoufi

  5. UMR Eco&Sols, INRA, 1 place Pierre Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

    M. Latati, J. J. Drevon & F. Gérard

  6. Rue de la revolution, collo, Skikda, Algeria

    M. Latati

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  1. M. Latati
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  2. D. Blavet
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  3. N. Alkama
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  4. H. Laoufi
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  5. J. J. Drevon
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  6. F. Gérard
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  7. M. Pansu
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  8. S. M. Ounane
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Correspondence to M. Latati.

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Latati, M., Blavet, D., Alkama, N. et al. The intercropping cowpea-maize improves soil phosphorus availability and maize yields in an alkaline soil. Plant Soil 385, 181–191 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2214-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2214-6

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