Sustainable intensification of agriculture: response of crop growth, soil properties, soil microbiome, and nitrogen cycle related functional genes in to fertilisation and grass-legume intercropping-monocropping managements

A three-year fertilization field study was established to assess legume and grass intercropping and monocropping for sustainable forage production in Finland. In our split-plot design, fertilizer treatment with unfertilized control, organic fertilizer, and synthetic fertilizer was the main plot factor, and crop treatment with fallow, red clover (Trifolium pratense), timothy (Phleum pratense), and a mixture of red clover and timothy was the sub-plot factor.The crop growth, soil properties, soil bacterial diversity and community, and nitrogen cycle related functional genes were investigated.