Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield

Liu Hecheng; Hu Xinru; Wang Shancong; Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed; Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi; Yu Qihang; Chen Meiyu; Meng Fanzheng; Wang Bo; Tang Yulou; Nasr Mahmoud Abdou; Kou Yanling; Zhang Rui; Shao Ruixin

doi:doi:10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

Research Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield

Liu Hecheng

, Hu Xinru

, Wang Shancong, Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed, Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi, Yu Qihang, Chen Meiyu, Meng Fanzheng, Wang Bo, Tang Yulou, Nasr Mahmoud Abdou, Kou Yanling^*, Zhang Rui^*, Shao Ruixin

Published in Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 10, Issue 3)

Received: 29 June 2025 Accepted: 14 July 2025 Published: 8 August 2025

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Abstract

The intensive maize-wheat double-cropping system underpins food security in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain but drives soil degradation through nutrient depletion and biodiversity loss, necessitating sustainable diversification. This study mechanistically compared legacy effects of five preceding summer crops-maize (control), soybean, peanut, pepper, sweet potato-on subsequent winter wheat performance, explicitly quantifying impacts on root architecture, soil enzymatic activity, and yield formation. Results demonstrated peanut’s unparalleled efficacy: it increased seedling-stage wheat shoot biomass by 37-41% and root biomass by 184% versus maize, while expanding root surface area (51%) and volume (54%) through optimized rhizosphere engineering. These morphological advantages persisted through maturity and correlated with significantly enhanced soil functionality-peanut elevated soil organic matter (25-37%), nitrate-N (138-148%), and ammonium-N (71-128%) while reducing C:N ratio. Crucially, peanut residues stimulated microbial metabolism, increasing β-glucosidase activity (governing C cycling) by 33-89% and urease activity (N mineralization) by 40-109%, whereas catalase activity showed context-dependent responses. This accelerated nutrient mineralization translated to agronomic superiority: peanut-wheat rotation yielded 10.5% more grain than maize-wheat, exceeding soybean-wheat by 3.4% despite lower 1000-grain weight, primarily through 26.6% higher ear density. Soybean provided intermediate soil N benefits but weaker root stimulation, while pepper suppressed enzymes and sweet potato inconsistently affected fertility. We conclude that peanut’s unique residue composition-low C:N ratio, abundant labile carbon, and rhizodeposits-primes a self-reinforcing root-microbe-soil loop that enhances nutrient synchrony, breaks maize-wheat yield ceilings, and offers a validated pathway for ecological intensification in cereal systems.

Published in	Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
Page(s)	74-87
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Crop Rotation, Preceding Crop Legacy, Root System, Soil Fertility, Soil Enzyme Activity, Peanut-wheat System

1. Introduction

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a cornerstone of global food security, and China’s Huang-Huai-Hai Plain is a critical production hub, contributing 60-80% of the nation’s wheat output

[1-4]

. For decades, this region has relied on an intensive winter wheat-summer maize (Zea mays L.) double-cropping system that now occupies over 60% of its arable land

[5]

. Although historically productive, the long-term persistence of this monoculture is exacting a significant ecological toll-accelerating soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, biodiversity loss, and pest- and disease-pressure-which contradicts national goals for sustainable agricultural development

[6-8]

Diversifying rotations is therefore recognized as a key strategy for sustainable intensification

[9-12]

. Individual studies report that soybean-wheat rotations raise soil inorganic N and boost wheat yield by over 20%

[13]

, while peanut-wheat rotations enhance yield and mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions

[11, 14, 15]

. Other precursors like sweet potato can also improve soil health

[16-18]

. However, these alternatives have rarely been tested side-by-side under identical field conditions; consequently, a systematic understanding of the relative merits of each precursor remain unclear. Even between the two legumes-peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.)-or non-legumes-pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)-mechanistic differences in their “legacy effects” on the subsequent wheat crop are poorly understood.

A mechanistic perspective requires moving beyond bulk soil chemistry to the biological legacy expressed in the rhizosphere. Soil extracellular enzymes serve as sensitive proxies for microbial activity and biogeochemical cycling

[19]	Yao, B.; Wang, X.; Li, Y.; Lian, J.; Li, Y.; Luo, Y.; Li, Y. Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activity Reflects the Change of Nitrogen to Phosphorus Limitation of Microorganisms during Vegetation Restoration in Semi-Arid Sandy Land of Northern China. Front. Environ. Sci. 2023, 11, 1298027, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1298027 View Article
[20]	Bowker, M. A.; Mau, R. L.; Maestre, F. T.; Escolar, C.; Castillo-Monroy, A. P. Functional Profiles Reveal Unique Ecological Roles of Various Biological Soil Crust Organisms: Functional Profiles of Biological Crusts. Functional Ecology 2011, 25, 787-795, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01835.x View Article
[21]	Bailey, V. L.; Fansler, S. J.; Stegen, J. C.; McCue, L. A. Linking Microbial Community Structure to β -Glucosidic Function in Soil Aggregates. The ISME Journal 2013, 7, 2044-2053, https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2013.87 View Article
[22]	Silva-Olaya, A. M.; Mora-Motta, D. A.; Cherubin, M. R.; Grados, D.; Somenahally, A.; Ortiz-Morea, F. A. Soil Enzyme Responses to Land Use Change in the Tropical Rainforest of the Colombian Amazon Region. PLoS ONE 2021, 16, e0255669, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255669 View Article
[23]	Cao, X.; Shi, Z.; Chen, J.; Liu, S.; Zhang, M.; Chen, M.; Xu, G.; Wu, J.; Xing, H.; Li, F. Extracellular Enzyme Characteristics and Microbial Metabolic Limitation in Soil of Subalpine Forest Ecosystems on the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Plant Soil 2022, 479, 337-353, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05521-2 View Article
[24]	Daunoras, J.; Kačergius, A.; Gudiukaitė, R. Role of Soil Microbiota Enzymes in Soil Health and Activity Changes Depending on Climate Change and the Type of Soil Ecosystem. Biology 2024, 13, 85, https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020085 View Article
[25]	Uwituze, Y.; Nyiraneza, J.; Fraser, T. D.; Dessureaut-Rompré, J.; Ziadi, N.; Lafond, J. Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Extracellular Soil Enzyme Responses to Different Land Use. Front. Soil Sci. 2022, 2, 814554, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2022.814554 View Article
[26]	Asensio, D.; Zuccarini, P.; Sardans, J.; Marañón-Jiménez, S.; Mattana, S.; Ogaya, R.; Mu, Z.; Llusià, J.; Peñuelas, J. Soil Biomass-Related Enzyme Activity Indicates Minimal Functional Changes after 16 Years of Persistent Drought Treatment in a Mediterranean Holm Oak Forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 2024, 189, 109281, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109281 View Article
[27]	Schaap, K. J.; Fuchslueger, L.; Quesada, C. A.; Hofhansl, F.; Valverde-Barrantes, O.; Camargo, P. B.; Hoosbeek, M. R. Seasonal Fluctuations of Extracellular Enzyme Activities Are Related to the Biogeochemical Cycling of C, N and P in a Tropical Terra-Firme Forest. Biogeochemistry 2023, 163, 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-022-01009-4 View Article

[19-27]

. For instance, the activity of β-glucosidase, which governs cellulose degradation, is sensitive to the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of crop residues left by a precursor like maize; hence, reflects carbon cycling dynamics influenced by residue quality

[28-30]

. Urease activity is a direct measure of the nitrogen cycle's intensity and can reveal the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation by a preceding legume

[31-33]

. Catalase activity, in turn, indicates the soil's capacity to mitigate oxidative stress, a measure of overall soil health

[34, 35]

. A systematic investigation into these enzymatic activities can provide a deeper, mechanistic understanding of how different crop precursors "engineer" the soil environment, a topic that remains under-explored in comparative rotation studies.

Accordingly, we conducted a field experiment that directly compared five preceding summer crops-maize, soybean, peanut, pepper, and sweet potato-under a common winter-wheat season. We linked their legacy effects on wheat biomass and root architecture to changes in soil physicochemical properties and key enzyme activities. Specifically, this study aimed to: (1) quantify their effects on wheat biomass accumulation and root architecture at seedling, flowering, and maturity; (2) link agronomic outcomes to changes in soil physicochemical properties and the activities of β-glucosidase, urease, and catalase; and (3) identify the most advantageous rotation for the region. We hypothesized that legume precursors would outperform non-legumes and that peanut, owing to its unique residue quality and N-fixation capacity, would surpass soybean by engineering a more favorable soil biochemical environment-characterized by enhanced nutrient availability and biological activity-thereby delivering the greatest wheat productivity. Findings from this study are expected to clarify the underlying mechanisms driving differences in preceding-crop residues, rhizosphere functioning, and wheat yield. By revealing these mechanisms, this research provides a scientific foundation for optimizing crop rotations to enhance soil fertility and achieve sustainable, high-yield agriculture in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and similar agroecological zones.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Site Description

The field experiment was conducted from February 2024 to June 2025 at the Wheat-Maize Academy of Science and Technology (34°0' N, 113°39' E; elevation 71-79 m a.s.l.) in Xuchang City, Henan Province, China. The region features a warm temperate, continental monsoon climate with a mean annual temperature of 14.5-14.7°C and mean annual precipitation of 697-705 mm, approximately 65% of which occurs between June and September. The site receives an average of 2180 hours of sunshine annually

[36]

. The soil is classified as a cinnamon soil (Fluvo-aquic)

[37, 38]

, typical for the intensive maize-wheat double-cropping systems of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Baseline properties of the 0-20 cm topsoil layer, determined from a composite sample prior to the experiment, were as follows: pH, 7.5; soil organic matter, 16.61 g kg^-¹; total nitrogen, 1.25 g kg^-¹; ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), 4.26 mg kg^-¹; nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N), 7.55 mg kg^-¹; and available phosphorus, 6.73 mg kg^-¹.

2.2. Experimental Design and Treatments

The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The total experimental area was 2200 m², with each individual plot measuring 4 m × 25 m (100 m²). The study evaluated the legacy effects of five different summer crops on a subsequent winter wheat crop. All summer crop residues were incorporated into the topsoil (0-10 cm) via rotary tillage after harvest. The five preceding crop treatments, established in the summer season of 2024, were:

1. Maize (cv. 'Golden Grain MY73'). A compound fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O: 15-5-10) was applied as a basal fertilizer at a rate of 750 kg ha^-¹.

2. Soybean (cv. 'Zhoudou 25'). A compound fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O: 13-25-10) was applied as a basal fertilizer at 150 kg ha^-¹.

3. Peanut (cv. 'Yuhua 22'). A compound fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O: 13-18-14) was applied as a basal fertilizer at 750 kg ha^-¹.

4. Pepper (cv. 'Jiaoyu 18'). Seedlings were raised on February 25, 2024, and transplanted on April 26, 2024. A water-soluble fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O: 10-30-10) was manually applied.

5. Sweet potato (cv. 'Shangshu 19'). Transplanted on June 23, 2024, after soil ridging. A compound fertilizer (N-P₂O₅-K₂O: 17-5-20) was applied as a basal fertilizer at 975 kg ha^-¹ and plots were irrigated post-transplanting.

Fertilizer rates for the summer crops followed local recommendations to satisfy crop nutrient demand. On October 20, 2024, winter wheat (cv. 'Yunong 908') was sown uniformly across all plots with a row spacing of 20 cm to achieve a target plant density of 3.5 × 10⁶ plants ha^-¹.

2.3. Sampling and Measurements

2.3.1. Plant Sampling for Biomass and Root Morphology

Wheat plant samples were collected at the seedling (Nov 13, 2024), flowering (Apr 12, 2025), and maturity (May 24, 2025) stages. At each sampling, five representative plants were randomly selected from each plot for analysis. The plant shoots were separated from the roots, placed in an oven at 105°C for 30 minutes for enzyme deactivation, then dried to a constant weight at 85°C to determine shoot dry weight. The excavated roots were processed for morphological analysis before being dried.

The carefully excavated roots from the sampled plants were washed to remove soil. Intact root systems were scanned using a flatbed scanner (Expression 1600 Pro, Epson, Japan) at 400 dpi resolution. The resulting images were analyzed using WinRHIZO software (Regent Instruments Inc., Canada) to determine total root length, surface area, volume, and average diameter. Following scanning, the roots were also oven-dried at 85°C to a constant weight to determine root dry weight.

2.3.2. Soil Sampling and Analysis

Soil samples from the 0-20 cm layer were collected at the wheat seedling and flowering stages. Within each plot, six soil cores were taken in an "S"-shaped pattern and combined to form one composite sample. After removing visible debris, each composite sample was homogenized and divided into two subsamples: one was air-dried for determination of soil organic matter (SOM) and pH; the other was sieved (2 mm) and stored at -20°C for analysis of available nutrients and enzyme activities.

Standard methods were used for all soil analyses. SOM was measured by the potassium dichromate wet oxidation method

[39]

. Available phosphorus was extracted with NaHCO₃ and determined by molybdenum-blue colorimetry

[40]

. NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N were extracted with KCl and quantified using indophenol blue colorimetry and phenol disulfonic acid colorimetry, respectively

[41]

. Soil pH was measured in a 1:2.5 soil-water suspension

[42]

. The activities of soil β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21)

[25]

, urease (EC 3.5.1.5)

[31, 43]

, and catalase were assessed using the commercial assay kits β-glucosidase kit, urease kit, and catalase kit respectively, according to the instructions of manufacturer (Beijing Boxbio Science & Technology Co., Ltd.). One unit of β-glucosidase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme generating 1 µmol p-nitrophenol per gram of soil. One unit of urease activity corresponded to the production of 1 µg NH₃-N per gram of soil. One unit of catalase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme degrading 1 mmol H₂O₂ per gram of air-dried soil

[44]

. Each treatment group was replicated five times.

2.3.3. Yield and Yield Components

At harvest (June 2, 2025), wheat plants from a 1 m² quadrat in the center of each plot were collected. The thousand-grain weight and final grain yield (Mg ha^-¹) were determined from the grain harvested from the quadrat and adjusted to 14% moisture content according to China's national standard GB/T 29890-2013

[45]

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Data were processed and tabulated using Microsoft Excel 2021. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted in SPSS Statistics 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) to test for significant effects of the preceding crop treatments. Treatment means were compared using Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at a significance level of P < 0.05. Figures were generated using OriginPro 2021 (OriginLab Corp., Northampton, MA, USA).

3. Results

3.1. Effects of Preceding Crops on Biomass Accumulation

The choice of preceding crop significantly influenced winter wheat biomass at all growth stages (Figure 1). Relative to the maize control, the peanut precursor boosted above-ground (Shoot) biomass by 37%, 41%, and 41% at seedling, flowering, and maturity stages, respectively (Figure 1A). Soybean also provided a substantial benefit, with gains of approximately 30% across all stages. In contrast, pepper and sweet potato conferred only marginal, non-significant improvements (<11%). This superiority of peanut was even more pronounced in root biomass (Figure 1B). At the critical seedling stage, peanut increased root dry mass by 184%, whereas soybean's effect, like other treatments, was not significant. The pattern was maintained over time, though peanut impact was diminished to a significant +27% increase at maturity over maize, while the pepper treatment resulted in a significant reduction at flowering and maturity.

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Figure 1. Effects of different preceding crops on (A) shoot and (B) root biomass of winter wheat. Measurements were taken at the seedling, flowering, and maturity stages. Values are means ± standard error (5 plants per replicate x 3 replicates). Different letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments within a given growth stage according to Fisher's LSD test at P < 0.05.

3.2. Effects of Preceding Crops on Root System Architecture

The peanut precursor engineered the most extensive and well-developed root system architecture (Figure 2), particularly at seedling and maturity. At the seedling stage, peanut increased root surface area by 51% and root volume by 54% compared to the maize control. This root-proliferating effect was significantly stronger than that observed for soybean, which was statistically similar to maize. While other precursors showed comparable or negative effects, particularly at later stages, peanut maintained its significant advantage in surface area, and volume through to maturity (Figure 2A-C). Root diameter did not follow a clear trend and was only significantly higher in the sweet potato treatment compared to maize at seedling (Figure 2D).

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Figure 2. Effects of different preceding crops on winter wheat root morphology: (A) root surface area, (B) root volume, (C) total root length, and (D) average root diameter. Measurements were taken at the seedling, flowering, and maturity stages. Values are means ± standard error (5 plants per replicate x 3 replicates). Different letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments within a given growth stage at P < 0.05.

3.3. Effects of Preceding Crops on Soil Fertility

The peanut precursor most effectively enhanced soil chemical properties (Figure 3). Compared to the maize control, the both legumes preserved soil pH by from reductions that occurred with non-legumes at either stage. Peanut exceptionally increased soil organic matter (SOM) by 25-37%, NO₃^--N by 138-148%, NH₄⁺-N by 71-128%, and available P (Figure 3A-D). The nitrogen-enhancing effect of peanut even significantly surpassed that of soybean, especially at seedling. Meanwhile, the carbon-nitrogen ratio under the previous peanut treatment was 2-4% lower than that under the corn treatment. Overall, it was lower than the other four treatments, especially during the seedling stage when it was significantly lower than the other four treatments. Among them, the carbon-nitrogen ratio of the sweet potato treatment during the flowering stage was significantly higher than that of the other four treatments. In contrast to the legumes, pepper lowered soil pH. Notably, sweet potato showed stage-specific significant increases over maize in SOM, N pools, and available P and K (Figure 3E-G).

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Figure 3. Effects of different preceding crops on soil chemical properties: (A) pH, (B) soil organic matter (SOM), (C) nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N), (D) ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), (E) available phosphorus, (F) available potassium, and (G) carbon-nitrogen ratio. Soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected at the winter wheat seedling and flowering stages. Values are means ± standard error (6 sample cores per replicate x 3 replicates). Different letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments within a given growth stage at P < 0.05.

3.4. Effects of Preceding Crops on Soil Enzyme Activities

Soil enzyme activities were significantly influenced by the preceding crop legacy (Figure 4). The peanut rotation stimulated the highest levels of biological activity. Relative to maize, peanut increased β-glucosidase activity by 33% (seedling) and 89% (flowering), and urease activity by 40% (seedling) and 109% (flowering) (Figure 4A, B). Catalase activity in the peanut treatment was modestly higher at the seedling stage (+14%), with soybean showing the highest increase but both comparable were to maize at flowering, (Figure 4C). While soybean also enhanced β-glucosidase and urease activities, the magnitude of the effect was significantly less pronounced than that of peanut and was limited to seedling stage. Pepper suppressed urease (seedling) and catalase (seedling and flowering) and had no effect on β-glucosidase. Sweet potato improved urease and catalase early and significantly increased β-glucosidase at flowering.

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Figure 4. Effects of different preceding crops on soil enzyme activities: (A) β-glucosidase, (B) urease, and (C) catalase. Soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected at the winter wheat seedling and flowering stages. Values are means ± standard error (6 sample cores per replicate x 3 replicates). Different letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments within a given growth stage at P < 0.05.

3.5. Effects of Preceding Crops on Winter Wheat Yield

The grain yield after peanut rotation was 10.5% higher than that after conventional corn rotation (Figure 5A). The key point is that peanuts are the only precursor, and the grain yield they produce is significantly higher than that of the corn control. Soybean rotation yield ranked second (+6.8% vs. maize). Although the 1000-grain weight of peanut treatment was -6.6% lower than that of corn treatment and the number of grains per ear was -6.5% lower than that of corn treatment, the number of ears per hectare was significantly 26.6% higher than that of corn treatment, which made this yield advantage still exist (Figure 5B, C, D). The number of ears per hectare of corn was significantly lower than that of the other four treatments, which made the grain yield after corn rotation have no advantage compared with the other four treatments. The yield and thousand-grain weight of peppers are the lowest, but compared with corn, the reduction in thousand-grain weight is relatively small. The number of grains per spike of sweet potatoes was the lowest, but only the corn and soybean treatments were significantly higher than the sweet potato treatments.

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Figure 5. Effects of different preceding crops on winter wheat (A) grain yield, (B) 1000 grain weight, (C) number of ears per hectare and (D) number of grains per spike at harvest. Values are means ± standard error (1 m² per replicate x 3 replicates). Different letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments at P < 0.05.

4. Discussion

4.1. Residue Quality Orchestrates Rhizosphere Re-configuration

The dramatic increase in winter wheat yield following peanut can be traced back to its earliest growth stages, where the peanut precursor established the foundation for success: a profoundly superior root system. Our results show that peanut didn't just marginally improve root growth; it fundamentally re-engineered its architecture, leading to massive early-season increases in root biomass, volume, and surface area (Figure 1B, Figure 2). This is in accordance with

[46, 47]

who demonstrated the unique residue profile and spatial residue distribution of peanut. Peanut pods are harvested belowground, leaving a large mass of fine roots, nodules, and peg tissues in situ. These residues possess (i) a low C: N ratio (<25)

[48]

, (ii) high concentrations of basic cations (Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺)

[49]

, and (iii) abundant labile carbon

[50]

. Their rapid mineralization supplied sizeable pulses of NH₄⁺ that were subsequently nitrified to NO₃^--reflected by the 70-130% rise in NH₄⁺-N and 140% rise in NO₃^--N relative to maize

[15, 51]

. The same labile substrates fueled microbial proliferation, elevating β-glucosidase (+89%) and urease (+109%) activities and accelerating C and N turnover (Figure 4). This early investment in below-ground infrastructure is paramount. A larger root system allows for more extensive soil exploration, granting the seedling superior access to water and nutrients at a critical developmental window, which directly translated to greater above-ground biomass accumulation throughout the entire season (Figure 1A).

The mechanistic contrast with the other precursors is telling. The high C:N ratio of maize stover likely caused transient nitrogen immobilization, suppressing early wheat root growth as soil microbes consumed available N for decomposition

[52, 53]

. More revealing is the comparison with soybean. While also a legume, soybean's root-stimulating effect was significantly less pronounced. This suggests the mechanism extends beyond a simple "legume effect" or nitrogen credit. Soybean residues share the legume trait of N enrichment but are mostly above-ground; stems with a higher C: N ratio (>35)

[54, 55]

are removed late in the season, explaining the weaker N-priming signal (+21-112%) and smaller urease response (+50%). The unique composition of peanut residues and their root exudates-potentially richer in specific organic acids or growth-promoting compounds-likely acts as a direct biostimulant for wheat root proliferation

[56, 57]

4.2. Chemical-biological Loops Drive Root Proliferation

The unique composition of peanut residues and their root exudates-potentially richer in specific organic acids or growth-promoting compounds-likely acts as a direct biostimulant for wheat root proliferation

[56, 57]

. This early, peanut-driven expansion of the root system created a positive feedback loop: a bigger root system acquired more resources, which fueled more shoot growth, which in turn could support further root development, establishing a trajectory of superior performance that other rotations could not match. The profound plant-level benefits were directly supported by a significant enhancement of the soil environment, particularly the activation of nutrient cycling pathways. The most striking finding was the massive increase in available nitrogen (NO₃^--N and NH₄⁺-N) in the peanut rotation, far surpassing even the soybean treatment (Figure 3C, D). Enhanced N availability alone cannot explain the 54% surge in root volume at the seedling stage under peanut. Peanut roots and decaying nodules exude phenolic acids (e.g., p-coumaric, ferulic)

[58, 59]

that act as auxin mimetics

[60]

, stimulating lateral-root initiation in wheat

[61, 62]

. The feedback loop is reinforced by microbial mobilization of SOM (+30%), which releases additional micronutrients and further enlarges root absorbing surfaces. A larger root system, in turn, heightens rhizodeposition, sustaining the high enzymatic activity-a self-amplifying “root-microbe-soil” loop.

This accelerated nutrient cycling is confirmed by the soil enzyme data (Figure 4). The dramatic increases in β-glucosidase and urease activities are the mechanistic fingerprints of this process. The surge in urease activity (up to 109% over maize) is the direct enzymatic evidence of enhanced N mineralization

[63-66]

, explaining how the organic nitrogen from peanut residues was so efficiently converted into plant-available forms. Similarly, the spike in β-glucosidase activity indicates a rapid breakdown of cellulosic material

[67]

, accelerating the release of carbon and other nutrients locked within the crop stubble. This indicates that the peanut legacy provides not just a larger pool of fixed nitrogen but also a more rapid mineralization of this nitrogen from its high-quality, low C:N residues. Peanut, therefore, does not just fertilize the soil; it biologically activates it, creating a self-reinforcing engine of nutrient supply that is perfectly timed to meet the demands of the growing wheat crop.

4.3. Contrasting Legume Legacies and Non-legume Cash Crops

Despite both being legumes, peanut consistently out-performed soybean. Three seemingly mechanistic distinctions emerge as key drivers: 1) Residue location-subterranean vs aerial-dictates contact with the upcoming wheat roots; 2) Quantity-peanut accumulates higher portion of total biomass in the soil than soybean; and 3) Biochemical diversity-peanut residues are richer in labile organic compounds that invigorate copiotrophic bacteria, whereas soybean straw is lignin-rich, slowing mineralization

[55]

. These factors compound to give peanut a two- to three-fold advantage in mineral N supply and root stimulation. However, these mechanisms remain speculative and warrants deep, direct, and mechanism-driven investigations.

Pepper residues acidified soil (pH −0.2) and suppressed urease and catalase, likely due to capsaicinoids and other alkaloids with antimicrobial properties

[68, 69]

. The concomitant 6-13% reduction in root biomass at later stages indicates mild allelopathy. Sweet-potato vines have a balanced C: N (<30) but high starch content

[70, 71]

, explaining their capacity to elevate available P/K yet only modestly affect N dynamics and yield.

4.4. Yield Integration: From Mechanism to Outcome

One of the most profound insights from this study comes from deconstructing the final grain yield. Grain yield is an emergent property integrating resource capture and conversion efficiency. The peanut rotation produced the highest yield despite having a lower thousand-grain weight (−7%) than maize (Figure 5). This seemingly counterintuitive result is mechanistically revealing. It strongly suggests that the yield advantage was not derived from filling individual grains more completely, but from establishing a higher overall yield potential earlier in the season. Specifically, this was achieved by increasing the number of productive spikes per unit area and/or the number of grains per spike

[72, 73]

owing to superior early biomass and root vigor

[74, 75]

, culminating in a 10.5% yield gain. Although, neither the number of productive spikes per unit area nor the number of grains per spike were considered in this study. Thus, future work should measure and calculate these prominent parameters. Soybean achieved a smaller (6.8%) increase, possibly because its biochemical legacy was weaker, and pepper/sweet potato failed to surpass maize statistically, underscoring that nutrient stoichiometry and allelo-chemistry-not merely “break-crop” status-determine rotation success.

This is a classic demonstration of source-sink dynamics. The superior root system and enhanced nutrient availability, presumably during the critical seedling and flowering phases, allowed the wheat plants in the peanut rotation to support a greater number of tillers that survived to become grain-bearing spikes. With a larger number of sinks (grains) to fill, the plant's photosynthetic resources (the source) were distributed across more grains, resulting in a slightly lower weight per individual grain but a significantly higher total grain mass per area. The other rotations, limited by early-season resource constraints, simply could not establish this high yield potential. This finding elegantly links the early-season advantages in root growth and soil health directly to the final, all-important metric of grain yield.

In synthesis, this study elucidates a clear, mechanistic pathway for the superiority of the peanut-wheat rotation: the peanut precursor initiates a virtuous cycle by engineering a superior root architecture. This extensive root system, operating within a biologically activated rhizosphere primed for rapid nutrient cycling, enables superior resource capture and biomass accumulation. This robust early growth allows the plant to set a higher yield potential, which ultimately translates into a significantly greater grain yield, breaking the conventional yield ceiling of the maize-wheat system. This work further reveals a mechanistic hierarchy of precursor effects: residue quality → enzyme activation → nutrient release → root proliferation → yield. Peanut sits at the apex of this hierarchy in the Huang-Huai-Hai context.

These findings are of great significance. Research shows that peanut rotation can significantly enhance the availability of soil nitrogen. By providing direct, comparative and mechanism-driven evaluations, this work goes beyond previous studies and offers strong, evidence-based recommendations for the diversification of the dominant and degraded corn-wheat model in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and other similar intensive agricultural regions. Among them, the high-fertilizer input from the previous crop leads to nutrient residue. These nutrients can be directly absorbed and utilized by the wheat root system, thereby promoting wheat growth. At the same time, the high-fertilizer input improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil, indirectly promoting wheat growth. In addition to the limitations mentioned above, future research should focus on two aspects. One is to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer in peanut rotation, achieve lower fertilizer costs and nitrogen conservation to meet the sustainable development of the environment and economy, and explore whether the nitrogen fixation efficiency of peanuts can be further improved. This provides a solid scientific basis for using it as a strategy to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, which is also a key goal of sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, it combines isotope-labeled residues with metagenomics to identify the microbial communities that lead to the observed enhanced enzyme activity and explore whether the ecological effects of peanuts can be further enhanced through targeted P/K supplementation.

5. Conclusions

This study provides definitive, comparative evidence that the choice of preceding crop is a critical determinant of winter wheat productivity and soil health. The peanut-wheat rotation emerged as a markedly superior system, outperforming the conventional maize-wheat sequence and other non-legume rotations, and-crucially-even the alternative soybean-wheat rotation. The superiority of the peanut precursor is driven by a cascade of synergistic, below-ground mechanisms. Peanut uniquely engineers a more extensive root system architecture (root biomass, surface area, and volume) in the early growth stages. These plant-level benefits were coupled with a biologically activated rhizosphere primed for accelerated nitrogen and carbon cycling, ensuring superior nutrient capture, showing increased soil organic matter, higher concentrations of available nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium), elevated soil enzyme activities, and a more stable soil pH. This robust foundation translates into greater biomass (above- and belowground) accumulation throughout the season and, ultimately, a significantly higher grain yield. In contrast, soybean provided intermediate benefits, whereas pepper and sweet potato precursors offered limited or inconsistent improvements and occasionally negative impacts on root growth and soil enzymes.

In conclusion, the peanut-wheat rotation is a highly effective and sustainable intensification strategy. Its adoption offers a scientifically-validated pathway to break the yield-limiting and degrading cycle of the dominant maize-wheat system, providing a robust solution for enhancing soil fertility, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and achieving higher wheat yields in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and other intensive agricultural regions. Further work on residue-microbiome interactions and balanced P and K management is recommended to maximize long-term benefits of this promising system.

Abbreviations

RCBD	Randomized Complete Block Design
ANOVA	Rnalysis Of Variance
LSD	Least Significant Difference

Author Contributions

Hecheng Liu: Formal analysis, Investigation, Visualization, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing.

Xinru Hu: Data curation, Investigation, Writing - original draft.

Shancong Wang: Data curation, Formal analysis.

Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed: Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing - review & editing.

Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi: Formal analysis, Investigation.

Qihang Yu: Investigation.

Meiyu Chen: Data curation.

Fanzheng Meng: Writing - original draft.

Bo Wang: Validation.

Yulou Tang: Methodology, Validation.

Nasr Mahmoud Abdou: Supervision, Validation.

Yanling Kou: Conceptualization, Resources.

Rui Zhang: Conceptualization, Resources.

Ruixin Shao: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration，Resources, Supervision.

Funding

This work was supported by the Major Science and Technology Project of Henan Province, China [grant numbers 241100110300].

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Hecheng, L., Xinru, H., Shancong, W., Ahmed, R. M. M., Abdelhadi, E. E. M., et al. (2025). Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Advances in Applied Sciences, 10(3), 74-87. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

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Hecheng, L.; Xinru, H.; Shancong, W.; Ahmed, R. M. M.; Abdelhadi, E. E. M., et al. Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2025, 10(3), 74-87. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

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Hecheng L, Xinru H, Shancong W, Ahmed RMM, Abdelhadi EEM, et al. Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Adv Appl Sci. 2025;10(3):74-87. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

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@article{10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14,
  author = {Liu Hecheng and Hu Xinru and Wang Shancong and Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed and Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi and Yu Qihang and Chen Meiyu and Meng Fanzheng and Wang Bo and Tang Yulou and Nasr Mahmoud Abdou and Kou Yanling and Zhang Rui and Shao Ruixin},
  title = {Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield
},
  journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {74-87},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20251003.14},
  abstract = {The intensive maize-wheat double-cropping system underpins food security in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain but drives soil degradation through nutrient depletion and biodiversity loss, necessitating sustainable diversification. This study mechanistically compared legacy effects of five preceding summer crops-maize (control), soybean, peanut, pepper, sweet potato-on subsequent winter wheat performance, explicitly quantifying impacts on root architecture, soil enzymatic activity, and yield formation. Results demonstrated peanut’s unparalleled efficacy: it increased seedling-stage wheat shoot biomass by 37-41% and root biomass by 184% versus maize, while expanding root surface area (51%) and volume (54%) through optimized rhizosphere engineering. These morphological advantages persisted through maturity and correlated with significantly enhanced soil functionality-peanut elevated soil organic matter (25-37%), nitrate-N (138-148%), and ammonium-N (71-128%) while reducing C:N ratio. Crucially, peanut residues stimulated microbial metabolism, increasing β-glucosidase activity (governing C cycling) by 33-89% and urease activity (N mineralization) by 40-109%, whereas catalase activity showed context-dependent responses. This accelerated nutrient mineralization translated to agronomic superiority: peanut-wheat rotation yielded 10.5% more grain than maize-wheat, exceeding soybean-wheat by 3.4% despite lower 1000-grain weight, primarily through 26.6% higher ear density. Soybean provided intermediate soil N benefits but weaker root stimulation, while pepper suppressed enzymes and sweet potato inconsistently affected fertility. We conclude that peanut’s unique residue composition-low C:N ratio, abundant labile carbon, and rhizodeposits-primes a self-reinforcing root-microbe-soil loop that enhances nutrient synchrony, breaks maize-wheat yield ceilings, and offers a validated pathway for ecological intensification in cereal systems.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield

AU  - Liu Hecheng
AU  - Hu Xinru
AU  - Wang Shancong
AU  - Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed
AU  - Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi
AU  - Yu Qihang
AU  - Chen Meiyu
AU  - Meng Fanzheng
AU  - Wang Bo
AU  - Tang Yulou
AU  - Nasr Mahmoud Abdou
AU  - Kou Yanling
AU  - Zhang Rui
AU  - Shao Ruixin
Y1  - 2025/08/08
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
SP  - 74
EP  - 87
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1514
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
AB  - The intensive maize-wheat double-cropping system underpins food security in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain but drives soil degradation through nutrient depletion and biodiversity loss, necessitating sustainable diversification. This study mechanistically compared legacy effects of five preceding summer crops-maize (control), soybean, peanut, pepper, sweet potato-on subsequent winter wheat performance, explicitly quantifying impacts on root architecture, soil enzymatic activity, and yield formation. Results demonstrated peanut’s unparalleled efficacy: it increased seedling-stage wheat shoot biomass by 37-41% and root biomass by 184% versus maize, while expanding root surface area (51%) and volume (54%) through optimized rhizosphere engineering. These morphological advantages persisted through maturity and correlated with significantly enhanced soil functionality-peanut elevated soil organic matter (25-37%), nitrate-N (138-148%), and ammonium-N (71-128%) while reducing C:N ratio. Crucially, peanut residues stimulated microbial metabolism, increasing β-glucosidase activity (governing C cycling) by 33-89% and urease activity (N mineralization) by 40-109%, whereas catalase activity showed context-dependent responses. This accelerated nutrient mineralization translated to agronomic superiority: peanut-wheat rotation yielded 10.5% more grain than maize-wheat, exceeding soybean-wheat by 3.4% despite lower 1000-grain weight, primarily through 26.6% higher ear density. Soybean provided intermediate soil N benefits but weaker root stimulation, while pepper suppressed enzymes and sweet potato inconsistently affected fertility. We conclude that peanut’s unique residue composition-low C:N ratio, abundant labile carbon, and rhizodeposits-primes a self-reinforcing root-microbe-soil loop that enhances nutrient synchrony, breaks maize-wheat yield ceilings, and offers a validated pathway for ecological intensification in cereal systems.
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Liu Hecheng

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0091-9460
Hu Xinru

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

http://orcid.org/0009-0009-1436-1898
Wang Shancong

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi

Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
Yu Qihang

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Chen Meiyu

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Meng Fanzheng

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Wang Bo

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Tang Yulou

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
Nasr Mahmoud Abdou

Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
Kou Yanling

School of Modern Horticulture, Henan Vocational College of Agriculture, Zhengzhou, China

Contact Email
Zhang Rui

Henan Agricultural Technology Extension Central Station, Zhengzhou, China

Contact Email
Shao Ruixin

Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Hecheng, L., Xinru, H., Shancong, W., Ahmed, R. M. M., Abdelhadi, E. E. M., et al. (2025). Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Advances in Applied Sciences, 10(3), 74-87. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

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ACS Style

Hecheng, L.; Xinru, H.; Shancong, W.; Ahmed, R. M. M.; Abdelhadi, E. E. M., et al. Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2025, 10(3), 74-87. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

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AMA Style

Hecheng L, Xinru H, Shancong W, Ahmed RMM, Abdelhadi EEM, et al. Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield. Adv Appl Sci. 2025;10(3):74-87. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14,
  author = {Liu Hecheng and Hu Xinru and Wang Shancong and Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed and Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi and Yu Qihang and Chen Meiyu and Meng Fanzheng and Wang Bo and Tang Yulou and Nasr Mahmoud Abdou and Kou Yanling and Zhang Rui and Shao Ruixin},
  title = {Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield
},
  journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {74-87},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20251003.14},
  abstract = {The intensive maize-wheat double-cropping system underpins food security in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain but drives soil degradation through nutrient depletion and biodiversity loss, necessitating sustainable diversification. This study mechanistically compared legacy effects of five preceding summer crops-maize (control), soybean, peanut, pepper, sweet potato-on subsequent winter wheat performance, explicitly quantifying impacts on root architecture, soil enzymatic activity, and yield formation. Results demonstrated peanut’s unparalleled efficacy: it increased seedling-stage wheat shoot biomass by 37-41% and root biomass by 184% versus maize, while expanding root surface area (51%) and volume (54%) through optimized rhizosphere engineering. These morphological advantages persisted through maturity and correlated with significantly enhanced soil functionality-peanut elevated soil organic matter (25-37%), nitrate-N (138-148%), and ammonium-N (71-128%) while reducing C:N ratio. Crucially, peanut residues stimulated microbial metabolism, increasing β-glucosidase activity (governing C cycling) by 33-89% and urease activity (N mineralization) by 40-109%, whereas catalase activity showed context-dependent responses. This accelerated nutrient mineralization translated to agronomic superiority: peanut-wheat rotation yielded 10.5% more grain than maize-wheat, exceeding soybean-wheat by 3.4% despite lower 1000-grain weight, primarily through 26.6% higher ear density. Soybean provided intermediate soil N benefits but weaker root stimulation, while pepper suppressed enzymes and sweet potato inconsistently affected fertility. We conclude that peanut’s unique residue composition-low C:N ratio, abundant labile carbon, and rhizodeposits-primes a self-reinforcing root-microbe-soil loop that enhances nutrient synchrony, breaks maize-wheat yield ceilings, and offers a validated pathway for ecological intensification in cereal systems.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Peanut Precursor Surpasses Soybean and Breaks the Maize-Wheat Paradigm by Engineering a Superior Rhizosphere to Boost Soil and Yield

AU  - Liu Hecheng
AU  - Hu Xinru
AU  - Wang Shancong
AU  - Reda Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed
AU  - Ebtesam Eid Mohamed Abdelhadi
AU  - Yu Qihang
AU  - Chen Meiyu
AU  - Meng Fanzheng
AU  - Wang Bo
AU  - Tang Yulou
AU  - Nasr Mahmoud Abdou
AU  - Kou Yanling
AU  - Zhang Rui
AU  - Shao Ruixin
Y1  - 2025/08/08
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
SP  - 74
EP  - 87
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1514
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20251003.14
AB  - The intensive maize-wheat double-cropping system underpins food security in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain but drives soil degradation through nutrient depletion and biodiversity loss, necessitating sustainable diversification. This study mechanistically compared legacy effects of five preceding summer crops-maize (control), soybean, peanut, pepper, sweet potato-on subsequent winter wheat performance, explicitly quantifying impacts on root architecture, soil enzymatic activity, and yield formation. Results demonstrated peanut’s unparalleled efficacy: it increased seedling-stage wheat shoot biomass by 37-41% and root biomass by 184% versus maize, while expanding root surface area (51%) and volume (54%) through optimized rhizosphere engineering. These morphological advantages persisted through maturity and correlated with significantly enhanced soil functionality-peanut elevated soil organic matter (25-37%), nitrate-N (138-148%), and ammonium-N (71-128%) while reducing C:N ratio. Crucially, peanut residues stimulated microbial metabolism, increasing β-glucosidase activity (governing C cycling) by 33-89% and urease activity (N mineralization) by 40-109%, whereas catalase activity showed context-dependent responses. This accelerated nutrient mineralization translated to agronomic superiority: peanut-wheat rotation yielded 10.5% more grain than maize-wheat, exceeding soybean-wheat by 3.4% despite lower 1000-grain weight, primarily through 26.6% higher ear density. Soybean provided intermediate soil N benefits but weaker root stimulation, while pepper suppressed enzymes and sweet potato inconsistently affected fertility. We conclude that peanut’s unique residue composition-low C:N ratio, abundant labile carbon, and rhizodeposits-primes a self-reinforcing root-microbe-soil loop that enhances nutrient synchrony, breaks maize-wheat yield ceilings, and offers a validated pathway for ecological intensification in cereal systems.
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

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