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<p>Intercropping is a sustainable management practice that simultaneously addresses the economic challenges of delayed income associated with plantation crops and the ecological challenges of soil health. While intercropping is known to enhance sustainability, the specific impacts of cocoa intercropping on soil aggregation and carbon dynamics in Indian oil palm plantations remain unclear. This study evaluated the hypothesis that cocoa intercropping improves soil physical and biochemical properties compared to oil palm monoculture across different sampling points and depths. Our results indicated that oil palm with cocoa intercropping significantly increased the proportion of microaggregates (0.053–0.25&#xa0;mm), small macroaggregates (0.25–2&#xa0;mm), large macroaggregates (&gt; 2&#xa0;mm) and water-stable aggregates compared to the monoculture. These improvements were most pronounced in the basins of the intercropped system, driven by higher aggregate-associated soil organic matter and increased enzyme activities. In contrast, the interspace of monoculture showed a higher proportion of silt + clay fractions. Non-labile carbon accounted for over 90% of total organic carbon, representing a high proportion of recalcitrant carbon in the soil, while intercropping significantly enhanced both the labile and non-labile fractions. These findings demonstrate that cocoa intercropping acts as a sustainable management practice to rejuvenate soil structure and increase aggregate stability in tropical oil palm plantations, improving soil health and economic returns for farmers.</p>

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Understanding the Soil Aggregation, Carbon Fractions, and Enzyme Activities in Oil Palm Monoculture and Oil Palm with Cocoa Intercropping

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月11日

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  • R. P. Premalatha,
  • K. Ramachandrudu,
  • K. Suresh,
  • K. Manorama,
  • V. Chandrakala,
  • L. Gowthami

摘要

Intercropping is a sustainable management practice that simultaneously addresses the economic challenges of delayed income associated with plantation crops and the ecological challenges of soil health. While intercropping is known to enhance sustainability, the specific impacts of cocoa intercropping on soil aggregation and carbon dynamics in Indian oil palm plantations remain unclear. This study evaluated the hypothesis that cocoa intercropping improves soil physical and biochemical properties compared to oil palm monoculture across different sampling points and depths. Our results indicated that oil palm with cocoa intercropping significantly increased the proportion of microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm), small macroaggregates (0.25–2 mm), large macroaggregates (> 2 mm) and water-stable aggregates compared to the monoculture. These improvements were most pronounced in the basins of the intercropped system, driven by higher aggregate-associated soil organic matter and increased enzyme activities. In contrast, the interspace of monoculture showed a higher proportion of silt + clay fractions. Non-labile carbon accounted for over 90% of total organic carbon, representing a high proportion of recalcitrant carbon in the soil, while intercropping significantly enhanced both the labile and non-labile fractions. These findings demonstrate that cocoa intercropping acts as a sustainable management practice to rejuvenate soil structure and increase aggregate stability in tropical oil palm plantations, improving soil health and economic returns for farmers.