Integrated simulation modeling of intercropping systems for soil nutrient dynamics under dryland and irrigated farming conditions

Abstract:

Intercropping is increasingly promoted as a resource-efficient strategy for stabilizing yield, improving nutrient capture, and strengthening resilience in water-limited agriculture. Process-based crop models are useful for evaluating such systems because they integrate crop growth, soil water balance, and nutrient cycling across contrasting management environments. This article synthesizes recent evidence on the use of APSIM and DSSAT for intercropping analysis and develops a literature-informed scenario framework for comparing monocropping and cereal-legume intercropping under dryland and irrigated conditions. The article does not present new field measurements; instead, it uses recent peer-reviewed evidence and official model documentation to construct reproducible comparative indices for soil mineral nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon trend, and water productivity. Across the scenario set, intercrops consistently outperformed corresponding monocrops, with the strongest advantage under irrigated management where synchronized water and nutrient supply amplified complementarity. Under dryland conditions, the main benefit of intercropping was not maximum nutrient abundance but improved nutrient retention and better conversion of scarce water into productive biomass. The synthesis supports the use of integrated simulation modeling as a decision aid for designing location-specific farming systems that are both nutrient-efficient and climate-resilient.