Does the Use of an Intercropping Mixture Really Improve the Biology of Monocultural Soils?—A Search for Bacterial Indicators of Sensitivity and Resistance to Long-Term Maize Monoculture

Abstract

The choice of appropriate agricultural practices has a significant impact on soil quality, crop productivity, or soil microbial community. Ten representative soil samples were collected in Wierzchucin Królewski (Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province, NW Poland), an agricultural area belonging to the Potulicka Foundation Group. The cropping systems included a maize monoculture grown continuously for over 30 years and an intercropping mixture (Gorzow mixture) applied in 2020. The study aimed to determine the effect of the intercropping system on the quality and biodiversity of the studied soils and to identify bacterial indicators of sensitivity and resistance to long-term maize monoculture. Therefore, in this study, the impact of the intercrop mixture application on the chemical and biological soil properties and on the diversity of the bacterial community was evaluated by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene sequences and indicators of sensitivity and resistance to long-term maize monoculture were recommended. The results showed that intercropping had a positive effect on soil features and increased the richness and diversity of soil bacteria at the taxonomic level of genera compared to the maize monoculture. Massilia and Haliangium were proposed to be bacterial indicators of sensitivity, while Sphingomonas was recommended to be an indicator of resistance to long-term maize monoculture. Overall, our results evidenced that using an intercropping system may be a sustainable agricultural practice in this area and in north-western Poland.