From Degradation to Growth: Intercropping Insights

Beata Barszczowska

beata.barszczowska@akademiagornoslaska.pl
Akademia Górnośląska im. W. Korfantego w Katowicach (Poland)

Sherif Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab


Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) (Egypt)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2399-205X

Tamer Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab


Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) (Egypt)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8506-4200

Eman Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab


Food Legumes Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) (Egypt)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-7238

Magda Barszczowska


Polish Economic Society Branch Office in Katowice (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8114-940X

Abstract

Soil nutrients in lands degraded by mining may be depleted, leading to negative impacts on poultry and livestock health and growth. Intercropping offers greater soil quality benefits in mine-degraded lands compared to sole cropping. Intercropping soybeans with maize can enhance soil carbon (C) sequestration, soil oxygen (O2) levels, magnesium (Mg) levels, silicon (Si) levels, and titanium (Ti) distribution, providing a sustainable option for farmers. It also boosts potassium (K) levels in the soil, improves nutrient utilization, and mitigates aluminum (Al) toxicity on plant growth. Intercropping can decrease iron (Fe) accumulation in the soil, potentially supporting plant growth and nutrient absorption. The complementary nutrient uptake patterns of the two crops in an intercropping system contribute to these advantages. This method can increase crop yields and support plant health in mixed cropping systems. Soil nutrients in lands degraded by mines may be depleted. Intercropping offers greater soil quality benefits in mine-degraded lands compared to sole cropping. Intercropping soybeans with maize can enhance soil C sequestration, soil O2 levels, Mg levels, Si levels and Ti distribution, providing a sustainable option for farmers. It also boosts K levels in the soil, improves nutrient utilization, and mitigates Al toxicity on plant growth. Intercropping can decrease Fe accumulation in the soil, potentially support plant growth, and nutrient absorption. The complementary nutrient uptake patterns of the two crops in an intercropping system contribute to these advantages.


Keywords:

mining, soil quality, maize, soybean, intercropping

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Published
2025-09-26

Cited by

Barszczowska, B. (2025) “From Degradation to Growth: Intercropping Insights”, Bulletin of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, (303/304), pp. 7–18. doi: 10.37317/biul-2025-0003.

Authors

Beata Barszczowska 
beata.barszczowska@akademiagornoslaska.pl
Akademia Górnośląska im. W. Korfantego w Katowicach Poland

Authors

Sherif Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab 

Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Egypt
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2399-205X

Authors

Tamer Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab 

Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Egypt
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8506-4200

Authors

Eman Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab 

Food Legumes Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Egypt
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-7238

Authors

Magda Barszczowska 

Polish Economic Society Branch Office in Katowice Poland
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8114-940X

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Copyright (c) 2025 Beata Barszczowska, Sherif Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab, Tamer Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab, Eman Ibrahim Abdel-Wahab, Magda Barszczowska

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