Abstract:
To explore the effect of intercropping on organic carbon sequestration in red soil and its response to phosphorus fertilization, this study was based on a 7-year continuous field experiment in a typical low-phosphorus red soil area of Yunnan, China. Four phosphorus fertilizer gradients were established: 0 (P0), 60 (P60), 90 (P90), and 120 (P120) kg∙P
2O
5∙hm
-2. The study systematically analyzed the changes in soil organic carbon stock (SOCs), soil organic carbon fractions, carbon sequestration amount, carbon sequestration rate, soil carbon pool activity index (AI), and carbon pool management index (CPMI), as well as their responses to different phosphorus fertilization levels, under two planting patterns: maize monocropping (MM) and maize//soybean intercropping (MI).The results showed that planting pattern and phosphorus application had a significant synergistic promotion effect on red soil organic carbon sequestration. Under different phosphorus application gradients, maize//soybean intercropping significantly improved the organic carbon sequestration capacity of red soil. Compared with the corresponding monocropping, the intercropped soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) increased by 21.3%, 31.8%, 30.1%, and 31.1% under Under P0, P60, P90, and P120, respectively; the soil carbon sequestration amount increased by 42.6%, 49.3%, 42.8%, and 46.1%, respectively. The highest increase in both indices was observed at P60.Under different phosphorus application gradients, maize//soybean intercropping significantly improved the activity and stability of the red soil carbon pool. Compared with the corresponding monocropping, the red soil carbon pool activity index (AI) increased by 9.0%, 36.1%, 20.3%, and 14.2% under Under P0, P60, P90, and P120, respectively, and the carbon pool management index (CPMI) increased by 25.7%, 86%, 54.5%, and 39.7%, respectively. The highest increase in both indexes was observed at P60.Under different phosphorus application gradients, maize//soybean intercropping significantly increased maize yield. Compared with the corresponding monocropping, the intercropped maize yield increased by 38.6%, 46.1%, 24.2%, and 6.5% under P0, P60, P90, and P120, respectively. Regardless of the monocropping or intercropping pattern, rational phosphorus application significantly improved organic carbon sequestration in red soil, with the highest effect observed at P90. The promoting effect of intercropping on red soil carbon sequestration was highest at P60.In summary, maize//soybean intercropping on low-phosphorus red soil offers significant advantages in promoting soil carbon sequestration and increasing maize yield. The intercropping advantage is optimal at a phosphorus application rate of 60-90 P
2O
5∙hm
−2. This system is one of the optimized planting modes for increasing maize yield and promoting green, low-carbon development in the red soil region of Southwest China.