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Soil health regulation for intercropping systems of rubber plantations: case study of Amomum villosum
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DOI：10.3389/ffgc.2026.1846078.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
IntroductionMonoculture rubber plantations in tropical regions face severe soil degradation; threatening long-term sustainability. The spatiotemporal dynamics of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) under intercropping remain poorly understood.MethodsWe investigated a rubber-Amomum villosum agroforestry system across temporal gradients (0; 2; 5; and 7 years) and two soil depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) in Hainan; China. Soil physicochemical properties; microbial biomass carbon (MBC); inorganic nitrogen; and plant belowground biomass and N uptake were measured.ResultsWe reveal a biphasic soil response: initial intercropping (2 years) temporarily depleted total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) due to tillage disturbance; with reductions of 4.26% and 3.20% in topsoil. Long-term (7-year) integration reversed this trajectory; driving substantial accumulation in TOC (+8.94%); TN (+6.43%); and MBC (+24.71%); while doubling belowground biomass (+135.69%) and N uptake (+130.88%). Soil depth significantly affected all indicators (p ≤ 0.01); with topsoil showing greater responsiveness. MBC emerged as the key driver of soil C–N sequestration; strongly correlating with inorganic N (R = 0.96) and light fraction organic carbon (R = 0.95). Regional surveys across 152 plots validated that intercropping effectively counteracts fertility decline in aging (>25 years) rubber stands.DiscussionTransitioning from monoculture to rubber-A. villosum intercropping restores soil functionality through enhanced microbial activity and nutrient cycling. This study provides a mechanistic framework for developing sustainable; low-carbon agroforestry practices in degraded tropical soils.
Keywords:
sustainable agriculture
soil health
intercropping
rubber
Amomum villosum
understory crops
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