Rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanuts has multiple benefits for agricultural production in the northern agropastoral ecotone region of China

The northern agropastoral ecotone region is an extremely vulnerable but vitally important ecological region in China. However, the synergistic agricultural production mode of economy and ecology is still rare in this region. In this study, a 4-year fixed-point experiment was conducted to study the soil characteristics, production and ecological effects of three typical planting modes (continuous maize [CM], continuous peanuts [CP] and a rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanuts [RMP]). The results indicated that RMP had multiple benefits compared with CM and CP: it improved the soil carbon stocks in the 10-20 cm soil layer by 20.11 % and 34.19 %, respectively; it increased the grain yield and economic benefits, with an increase of 19.68 % and 17.29 % in the average annual yield of maize and peanuts, respectively, and an increase in revenue of 23.14 % and 13.99 %, respectively; the land use efficiency can be improved and the average land equivalent ratio of 4 years is 1.20; the soil erosion and the resulting carbon emissions were reduced, with a decrease in the intensity of erosion of 8.28 % and 45.45 %, respectively, and a decrease of 22.73 % and 45.16 % in the resulting carbon emissions, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the improvement in soil characteristics, such as the modification of soil organic carbon, mineralized carbon, and an increase in available nutrients, helps to increase the yields of maize and peanut in the RMP. In conclusion, RMP resulted in multiple benefits and was more consistent with sustainable agricultural production in the agropastoral ecotone region.

Automated summary

The study focused on the agropastoral ecotone region in northern China, highlighting the importance of a synergistic agricultural production mode that combines economy and ecology. The results showed that the rotational strip intercropping of maize and peanuts (RMP) had multiple benefits compared to continuous maize (CM) and continuous peanuts (CP), including improved soil characteristics, increased grain yield and economic benefits, enhanced land use efficiency, and reduced soil erosion and carbon emissions. This study demonstrated that RMP is more consistent with sustainable agricultural production in the region.