{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"id": "10.1016/j.eja.2008.07.003", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Closed Access", "updated": "2026-09-22T16:15:43Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2008-09-07", "title": "Competition For Nitrogen In An Unfertilized Intercropping System: The Case Of An Association Of Grapevine And Grass Cover In A Mediterranean Climate", "description": "Cover cropping is currently increasing in vineyards as it provides solutions to some of the problems encountered in vine growing. However, its development is still hampered in Mediterranean regions because of fears of severe competition for water. Recent studies have shown that soil resources other than water may also be restrictive, and particularly nitrogen. Over a three-year period, the effect of introducing a cover crop was studied with respect to the temporal and spatial changes to nitrogen dynamics in a Mediterranean vineyard. The experiment compared the impact of three different types of soil cover management on nitrogen dynamics, and particularly on soil nitrogen mineralization which is the principal source of inorganic nitrogen in situations with no application of N fertilizers which are frequent in viticulture. This experiment provided evidence that the presence of an intercrop significantly reduced nitrogen accumulation in aerial parts of grapevine during the year due to competition for soil resources. This reduction varied markedly between years and treatments, and was more pronounced during dry years. The competition for nitrogen was direct as intercrop deprived grapevine of soil nitrogen beneath the inter-row and caused grapevine uptake to be higher beneath the row. In deep soils, a grapevine can adapt its root system in order to access deeper water resources, but it then partially abandons the mineralization zone containing most inorganic nitrogen. Competition for nitrogen was less marked with a temporary cover crop than with a permanent one, because of the shorter period of uptake with the former and the time needed for an annual cover crop to develop its root system each year. Intercrop also competed indirectly for nitrogen with grapevine as it took up soil water and made inorganic nitrogen less mobile and accessible to grapevine. Intercrop markedly decreased soil nitrogen mineralization. Although it did not significantly affect organic matter characteristics or soil temperature, it clearly modified the water regime. Indeed, under either temporary or perennial cover crops, the upper soil layers dried more rapidly than when there was only evaporation from bare soil. Consequently, nitrogen mineralization decreased faster with intercropped treatments and halted prematurely during the summer. The earliness of the reduction in nitrogen accumulation in intercropped vineyards also suggested that a lower level of nitrogen transfer to perennial reserves was involved. Indeed, grass cover grows and competes for nitrogen during the autumn which is a favourable period for nitrogen accumulation in wood reserves. Although better water infiltration was observed in the presence of a cover crop (notably in the autumn), the favourable conditions for nitrogen mineralization were propitious for grass cover growth and uptake. Consequently, intercrop reduced grapevine growth of the year but also the potential growth for the next year by decreasing grapevine nitrogen perennial reserves", "keywords": ["[SDV.SA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences", "P33 - Chimie et physique du sol", "2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "[SDV.SA] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences", "STRESS", "550", "F08 - Syst\u00e8mes et modes de culture", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8283", "WATER-NITROGEN INTERACTION", "COMPETITION", "NITROGEN BALANCE", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4188", "INTERCROPPING", "Vitis vinifera", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "culture intercalaire", "RELATION SOURCE-PUITS", "F04 - Fertilisation"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2008.07.003"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Agronomy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.eja.2008.07.003", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.eja.2008.07.003", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.eja.2008.07.003"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s11104-016-2949-3", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-22T16:15:07Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-06-14", "title": "Phosphorus Availability And Microbial Community In The Rhizosphere Of Intercropped Cereal And Legume Along A P-Fertilizer Gradient", "description": "Positive below-ground interactions (facilitation) should be more pronounced when resources limit crop growth, according to the stress-gradient hypothesis. Our aim was to test this hypothesis for intercropped durum wheat and faba bean along a P-fertilizer gradient. A field experiment was conducted in a long-term P-fertilizer trial with three rates of P-fertilization (No, Low and High P). Microbial biomass was assessed by chloroform fumigation-extraction. Quantitative PCR was applied to evaluate the abundance of relevant microbial groups. Phosphorus availability and microbial biomass systematically increased in the rhizosphere compared to bulk soil. P-fertilization resulted in higher abundance of targeted bacterial phyla, whole bacterial and fungal communities, and depressed mycorrhizal colonization of durum wheat, but not faba bean. Microbial biomass carbon significantly increased in the rhizosphere only in P-fertilized treatments, pointing to P limitation of microbial communities. Intercropping yielded a significant effect on rhizosphere microbial properties only at High P. Microbial biomass P increased in the rhizosphere of intercropped faba bean only at No P level, and was thus the sole finding supporting the stress-gradient hypothesis. P-fertilization was the main driver of microbial communities in this field trial, and P-fertilizer application modulated the species-specific effect in the intercrop. Plant performance did not validate the stress-gradient hypothesis as positive plant-plant interactions occurred regardless of the level of P-fertilization.", "keywords": ["[SDE] Environmental Sciences", "engrais phosphat\u00e9", "F08 - Syst\u00e8mes et modes de culture", "[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]", "F62 - Physiologie v\u00e9g\u00e9tale - Croissance et d\u00e9veloppement", "mycorhization", "Triticum turgidum", "630", "fertilisation", "[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_37554", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5800", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10795", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_24199", "2. Zero hunger", "Mycorrhizal colonization", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Vicia faba", "[SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]", "fertilit\u00e9 du sol", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6569", "Rhizosphere", "Long-term fertilization", "[SDE]Environmental Sciences", "[SHS] Humanities and Social Sciences", "Intercrop", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8220", "rhizosph\u00e8re", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4819", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7170", "plante c\u00e9r\u00e9ali\u00e8re", "flore microbienne", "disponibilit\u00e9 nutriments (sol)", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25512", "mod\u00e8le math\u00e9matique", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36163", "Microbial community", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081", "phosphate", "P availability", "P34 - Biologie du sol", "15. Life on land", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_16367", "plante l\u00e9gumi\u00e8re", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7958", "628", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_35986", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "culture intercalaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8165", "F04 - Fertilisation"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2949-3"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20and%20Soil", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11104-016-2949-3", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11104-016-2949-3", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11104-016-2949-3"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-06-14T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-22T16:15:51Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-08-09", "title": "Maize\u2013Grain Legume Intercropping Is An Attractive Option For Ecological Intensification That Reduces Climatic Risk For Smallholder Farmers In Central Mozambique", "description": "Abstract Many farmers in central Mozambique intercrop maize with grain legumes as a means to improve food security and income. The objective of this study was to understand the farming system, and to evaluate the suitability of maize\u2013legume intercropping to alleviate the biophysical and socio-economic constraints faced by smallholder farmers in Ruaca and Vunduzi villages, central Mozambique. To achieve this we characterised the farming systems and measured grain yields, rainfall infiltration, economic returns and acceptability of maize\u2013legume intercrops under different N and P application rates. Two intercropping strategies were tested: (a) an additive design of within-row intercropping in which legume was intercropped with alternating hills of maize within the same row; maize plant population was the same as sole crop maize, and (b) a substitutive design with distinct alternating rows of maize and legume (local practice). Fertiliser treatments imposed on all treatments were: (i) no fertiliser, (ii) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 , (iii) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 \u00a0+\u00a030\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha \u22121 , and (iv) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 \u00a0+\u00a060\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha \u22121 . Intercrops were relatively more productive than the corresponding sole crops; land equivalent ratios (LER) for within-row intercropping ranged between 1.1 and 2.4, and between 1.0 and 1.9 for distinct-row intercropping. Average maize yield penalty for intercropping maize and pigeonpea in the within-row was small (8%) compared with 50% in the distinct-row design; average (season\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0fertiliser) sole maize yield was 3.2\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Intercropping maize and cowpea in within-row led to maize yield loss of only 6%, whereas distinct-row intercropping reduced maize yield by 25% from 2.1\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 of sole maize (season\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0fertiliser). Cowpea yield was less affected by intercropping: sole cowpea had an average yield of 0.9\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 , distinct-row intercropping (0.8\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 ) and the within-row intercropping yielded 0.9\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Legumes were comparatively less affected by the long dry spells which were prevalent during the study period. Response to N and P fertiliser was weak due to poor rainfall distribution. In the third season, maize in rotation with pigeonpea and without N fertiliser application yielded 5.6\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 , eight times more than continuous maize which was severely infested by striga ( Striga asiatica ) and yielded only 0.7\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Rainfall infiltration increased from 6\u00a0mm\u00a0h \u22121 to 22\u00a0mm\u00a0h \u22121 with long-term maize\u2013legume intercropping due to a combination of good quality biomass production which provided mulch combined with no tillage. Intercropping maize and pigeonpea was profitable with a rate of return of at least 343% over sole maize cropping. Farmers preferred the within-row maize\u2013legume intercropping with an acceptability score of 84% because of good yields for both maize and legume. Intercropping increased the labour required for weeding by 36% compared with the sole crops. Farmers in Ruaca faced labour constraints due to extensification thus maize\u2013pigeonpea intercropping may improve productivity and help reduce the area cultivated. In Vunduzi, land limitation was a major problem and intensification through legumes is amongst the few feasible options to increase both production and productivity. The late maturity of pigeonpea means that free-grazing of cattle has to be delayed, which allows farmers to retain crop residues in the fields as mulch if they choose to; this allows the use of no-tillage practises. We conclude that maize\u2013legume intercropping has potential to: (a) reduce the risk of crop failure, (b) improve productivity and income, and (c) increase food security in vulnerable production systems, and is a feasible entry point to ecological intensification.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "F08 - Syst\u00e8mes et modes de culture", "rendement des cultures", "agro\u00e9cologie", "petite exploitation agricole", "extensification", "nitrogen-fixation", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "630", "analyse \u00e9conomique", "l\u00e9gume sec", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6214", "striga", "syst\u00e8me de culture", "intensification", "2. Zero hunger", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10967", "soil fertility", "1. No poverty", "facteur climatique", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Sorghum bicolor", "resource capture", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92381", "rentabilit\u00e9", "conservation agriculture", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8504", "s\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_13199", "E16 - \u00c9conomie de la production", "Vigna unguiculata", "crop-rotation", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_29554", "Cenchrus americanus", "Zea mays", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7247", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10176", "Life Science", "decomposition", "15. Life on land", "yield", "Maize", "cowpea", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3351", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33484", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33485", "systems", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2469", "culture intercalaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1971", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4964", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8247", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7113"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1080/08903060050136432", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "unspecified", "updated": "2026-09-22T16:17:28Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2002-07-26", "title": "Alley Cropping Of Maize And Gliricidia Sepium In The Sudanese Sahel Region: Some Technical Feasibility Aspects", "description": "An association in an alley cropping experiment of a short-term maize variety and a tree legume (#Gliricidia sepium#) adapted to the Sudanese Sahel region was studied from the point of view of the nitrogen balance and plot yields. Isotopic labelling applied in the field enabled the contribution to maize nitrogen nutrition from different nitrogen sources (fertilizer, prunings, and soil) to be quantified. For equal cultivated areas, alley cropping provides a maize yield greater than that of maize grown in pure stand without nitrogen fertilizer. However this yield is only 40% of that obtained in pure stands with fertilizer nitrogen. Alley cropping gives a very favourable Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of 0.90 and 1.58 compared with N-fertilized and non-N-fertilized plots, respectively. These LERs demonstrate the increased biological efficiency of the cultivated soil in an agroforestry system. The percentage of the total nitrogen in the maize coming from prunings (Nfdp) varies between 30 and 35% and the true coefficient of nitrogen utilization of the prunings (TCUp) varies from 15-25%. In the environment of central Senegal, the percentage of total nitrogen of #G. sepium# coming from N2 fixation is quite low (Ndffix = 25%), and consequently, in the maize, the nitrogen coming from N2 fixation (Ndffix) is only 8%. It is therefore necessary to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fixation of #G. sepium# in this zone to assure the sustainability of the agroforestry system. (Resume d'auteur)", "keywords": ["Fixation de l'azote", "engrais organique", "Nitrogen", "F08 - Syst\u00e8mes et modes de culture", "rendement des cultures", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5192", "Soil fertility", "Zea mays", "Gliricidia sepium", "fertilisation", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_16379", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10176", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4592", "Nitrogen fixation", "F01 - Culture des plantes", "Agroforestry", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6970", "Ecosystem", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10795", "azote", "agroforesterie", "2. Zero hunger", "technique des traceurs", "engrais azot\u00e9", "nutrition des plantes", "Agriculture", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_207", "Utilization", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8504", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7835", "Fertilization", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "culture intercalaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5195", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5196", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3278", "F04 - Fertilisation"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Ndiaye, Mamadou, Ganry, Francis, Oliver, Robert,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1080/08903060050136432"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Arid%20Soil%20Research%20and%20Rehabilitation", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1080/08903060050136432", "name": "item", "description": "10.1080/08903060050136432", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1080/08903060050136432"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2000-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "2164/19434", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-09-22T16:22:39Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-08-22", "title": "Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers", "description": "Abstract

Diversified cropping systems, especially those including legumes, have been proposed to enhance food production with reduced inputs and environmental impacts. However, the impact of legume pre-crops on main crop yield and its drivers has never been systematically investigated in a global context. Here, we synthesize 11,768 yield observations from 462 field experiments comparing legume-based and non-legume cropping systems and show that legumes enhanced main crop yield by 20%. These yield advantages decline with increasing N fertilizer rates and crop diversity of the main cropping system. The yield benefits are consistent among main crops (e.g., rice, wheat, maize) and evident across pedo-climatic regions. Moreover, greater yield advantages (32% vs. 7%) are observed in low- vs. high-yielding environments, suggesting legumes increase crop production with low inputs (e.g., in Africa or organic agriculture). In conclusion, our study suggests that legume-based rotations offer a critical pathway for enhancing global crop production, especially when integrated into low-input and low-diversity agricultural systems.