The effect of intercropping on the efficiency of faba bean - rhizobial symbiosis and durum wheat soil-nitrogen acquisition in a Mediterranean agroecosystem Kaci G. auteur aut IRD Blavet Didier auteur aut IRD Benlahrech S. auteur aut IRD Kouakoua Ernest auteur aut IRD Couderc P. auteur aut IRD Deleporte P. auteur aut IRD Desclaux D. auteur aut IRD Latati M. auteur aut IRD Pansu Marc auteur aut IRD Drevon J. J. auteur aut IRD Ounane S. M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access The aim of this study was to compare the rhizobial symbiosis and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulations in soil and plants in intercropping versus sole cropping in biennial rotation of a cereal-durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), and a N-2-fixing legume-faba bean (Vicia faba L.) over a three-year period at the INRA (National Institue of Agronomic Research) experimental station in the Mauguio district, south-east of Montpellier, France. Plant growth, nodulation and efficiency in the use of rhizobial symbiosis (EURS) for the legume, nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) for the cereal, and N and C accumulation in the soil were evaluated. Shoot dry weight (SDW) and NNI were significantly higher for intercropped than for the sole cropped wheat whereas there was no significant difference on SDW between the intercropped and sole cropped faba beans. EURS was higher in intercropped than in sole cropped faba bean. Furthermore, by comparison with a weeded fallow, there was a significant increase in soil C and N content over the three-year period of intercropping and sole cropping within the biennial rotation. It is concluded that intercropping increases the N nutrition of wheat by increasing the availability of soil-N for wheat. This increase may be due to a lower interspecific competition between legume and wheat than intra-specific competition between wheat plants, thanks to the compensation that the legume can achieve by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen. specialized carbon storage grain yield and quality production legumes macronutrients N-2 fixation plant-soil system FRANCE ZONE MEDITERRANEENNE 068 084 076 Plant Soil and Environment 64 3 138-146 2018 1214-1178 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072508 10.17221/9/2018-pse 1214-1178 [F B010072508] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072508 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers18-04/010072508.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-05-04 2023-07-11 fdi:010072508 fre