Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation in wheat–pea intercropping systems on wheat productivity and soil fertility
Keywords:
root colonization , grain quality, nutrient-use efficiency, phosphorus uptake, biological nitrogen fixation, sustainable agricultureAbstract
Intercropping cereals with legumes and the application of beneficial soil microorganisms are promising strategies for improving crop productivity and maintaining soil fertility in sustainable agricultural systems. This study evaluated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on wheat–pea intercropping productivity and soil agrochemical properties under field conditions in Mongolia. Four treatments were compared: wheat monocropping (control), wheat–pea intercropping, wheat–pea intercropping with native AMF inoculation, and wheat–pea intercropping with a commercial AMF inoculum (Kormilitsa).
AMF colonization of wheat roots increased significantly from 6.1% in the control to 29.0% in the wheat–pea intercrop and reached 44.6–47.0% in the AMF-inoculated treatments. Wheat growth and productivity were enhanced by intercropping and AMF inoculation. The highest plant height (70.6 cm), thousand-kernel weight (44.0 g), and grain yield (23.44 q ha⁻¹) were recorded in the wheat–pea + Kormilitsa AMF treatment. Grain yield increased by 15.6–20.8% compared with the control. Grain quality was also improved, with the highest vitreousness (46.4%) and wet gluten content (26.0%) observed in the Kormilitsa treatment. Soil analyses showed increases in humus, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the intercropping treatments, whereas soil pH and electrical conductivity remained relatively stable.
The results demonstrate that wheat–pea intercropping combined with AMF inoculation can improve wheat productivity, grain quality, and soil fertility. Among the evaluated treatments, the commercial AMF inoculum (Kormilitsa) produced the most favorable agronomic and soil responses. These findings highlight the potential of integrating cereal–legume intercropping with AMF inoculation as a sustainable biological approach for improving crop production and maintaining soil health in Mongolia.
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