Nguyen Van Long^*, Vo Chi Cuong, Nguyen Do, Dinh Thi Ngoc Hanh

Pepper Research and Development Center, 322 Truong Chinh, Hoi Phu Gia Lai.

^*Email: vanlongpleiku@gmail.com ; ĐT: 0935 493 127

 

ABSTRACT

Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi) is a versatile legume that helps protect soil, improve its physicochemical properties, and, significantly, fix nitrogen. The study aimed to identify the biomass, nutrient content, and the effects of Arachis pintoi mulch on soil fertility and the yield of Black pepper (Piper nigrum L. cv. Vinh Linh). The experimental design consisted of two blocks without replication across two locations on productive Black pepper plantations in Gia Lai and Dak Lak. The trial consisted of two treatments: A+ (Arachis pintoi planted in inter-rows of Black pepper and A- (the unplanted control). After two years, depending on intercropped areas, Arachis pintoi produced an average of 5.31 MT of fresh biomass/ha/year (equivalent to 1.48 tonnes of dry biomass/ha/year). Arachis pintoi contributed an average of 32.7 kg N + 4.2 kg P and 17.9 kg K/ha/year through this bio-mulching practice. Moreover, Arachis pintoi mulching significantly improved soil pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentration when compared to the control by 1.87 – 6.59%, 7.36 – 13.58%, 9.52 – 11.75%, 7.95 – 11.87%, and 3.57 – 4.96%, respectively. However, the study did not find differences in crop yield between treatment and control, regardless of location. Arachis pintoi should be recommended for sustainable Black pepper production in Vietnam. These findings provide evidence that cover cropping with Arachis pintoi could reduce overall nitrogen fertilizer applications, reduce soil erosion, maintain soil moisture, and contribute to the sustainable development of the pepper industry.

Keywords: Black pepper, Arachis pintoi, intercropping, and soil health improvement.