Role of fertilization regime on soil carbon sequestration and crop yield in a maize-cowpea intercropping system on low fertility soils

•Soil structural stability loss and carbon depletion instigate food security issues.•Suitable intercrops with balanced fertilization may reverse degradation processes.•Cowpea-maize leads grain yield advantage of intercrops with NPK enriched compost.•Compost boosted soil stability, NPK enriched compost had the highest C-storage.•Soil structural revitalization bids for higher C-storage and better crop yields.