A first-year melon/cowpea intercropping system improves soil nutrients and changes the soil microbial community

The melon/cowpea intercropping system can be a specific and efficient cropping pattern in horticultural field. Intercropping systems contribute to the optimization of land use, fostering sustainable agriculture. This study entails first-year comparative assay using cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) melon (Cucumis melo) under organic management with different patterns 30% less fertilization than usual monocrops. We determined soil nutrients, physicochemical properties, enzyme activities microbes by high-throughput sequencing. found that changed bacterial community structure independently pattern. was characterized higher abundance phyla Proteobacteria Bacteroidetes genus Pseudomonas, which are related nutrient cycling, greater amounts other beneficial microorganisms like Bacillus, Streptomyces Sphingomonas. intercropped significantly boosted total nitrogen, available phosphorus carbon levels addition yield. They also enhanced acid phosphatase β-glucosidase activity compared monocrop. Results from this suggest intercropping, starting first year, not only provides stable supply food income due diversified systems, but is for microbial environment.