Long-term increased grain yield and soil fertility from intercropping

Xiao-Fei Li, Zhi-Gang Wang, Xing-Guo Bao, Jian-Hao Sun, Si-Cun Yang, Ping Wang, Cheng-Bao Wang, Jin-Pu Wu, Xin-Ru Liu, Xiu-Li Tian, Yu Wang, Jian-Peng Li, Yan Wang, Hai-Yong Xia, Pei-Pei Mei, Xiao-Feng Wang, Jian-Hua Zhao, Rui-Peng Yu, Wei-Ping Zhang, Zong-Xian Che, Lin-Guo Gui, Ragan M. Callaway, David Tilman and Long Li ()
Additional contact information
Xiao-Fei Li: China Agricultural University
Zhi-Gang Wang: China Agricultural University
Xing-Guo Bao: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jian-Hao Sun: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Si-Cun Yang: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Ping Wang: Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
Cheng-Bao Wang: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Jin-Pu Wu: China Agricultural University
Xin-Ru Liu: China Agricultural University
Xiu-Li Tian: China Agricultural University
Yu Wang: China Agricultural University
Jian-Peng Li: China Agricultural University
Yan Wang: China Agricultural University
Hai-Yong Xia: China Agricultural University
Pei-Pei Mei: China Agricultural University
Xiao-Feng Wang: China Agricultural University
Jian-Hua Zhao: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Rui-Peng Yu: China Agricultural University
Wei-Ping Zhang: China Agricultural University
Zong-Xian Che: Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Lin-Guo Gui: Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
Ragan M. Callaway: University of Montana
David Tilman: University of Minnesota
Long Li: China Agricultural University

Nature Sustainability, 2021, vol. 4, issue 11, 943-950

Abstract: Abstract Population and income growth are increasing global food demand at a time when a third of the world’s agricultural soils are degraded and climate variability threatens the sustainability of food production. Intercropping, the practice of growing two or more spatially intermingled crops, often increases yields, but whether such yield increases, their stability and soil fertility can be sustained over time remains unclear. Using four long-term (10–16 years) experiments on soils of differing fertility, we found that grain yields in intercropped systems were on average 22% greater than in matched monocultures and had greater year-to-year stability. Moreover, relative to monocultures, yield benefits of intercropping increased through time, suggesting that intercropping may increase soil fertility via observed increases in soil organic matter, total nitrogen and macro-aggregates when comparing intercropped with monoculture soils. Our results suggest that wider adoption of intercropping could increase both crop production and its long-term sustainability.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00767-7

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