Exploring the Synergistic Benefits of Sugarcane Intercropping with Legumes and Nitrogen Reduction on System Productivity
摘要
Sugarcane production faces significant challenges due to climate change, declining soil fertility, and excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer use, which threaten sustainability and food security. The present study explored the synergistic benefits of intercropping sugarcane with legumes (soybean, mungbean, and mashbean) under reduced nitrogen rates (126 and 168 kg ha− 1) to enhance system productivity while minimizing the dependency on synthetic fertilizers. Field experiments were conducted over two years (2023–2024) in Faisalabad, Pakistan, using a randomized complete block design (split-plot arrangement) with three replications. The results demonstrated that sugarcane-soybean intercropping with 75% of the recommended nitrogen dose (126 kg ha− 1) achieved comparable to sole sugarcane with full nitrogen (168 kg ha− 1), alongside significant improvements in soil health, including increased organic matter (54% more than control), nitrogen content (54% more than control), and reduced bulk density (27% less than control). Competitive indices such as land equivalent ratio and system productivity index were highest in sugarcane-soybean systems, indicating efficient resource use. These findings highlight the potential of legume intercropping to reduce synthetic nitrogen dependency, enhance sustainability, and maintain high productivity in sugarcane cultivation.