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Dubey R, Zustovi R, Landschoot S, Dewitte K, Verlinden G, Haesaert G, Maenhout S. Harnessing monocrop breeding strategies for intercrops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1394413. [PMID: 38799097 PMCID: PMC11119317 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1394413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Intercropping is considered advantageous for many reasons, including increased yield stability, nutritional value and the provision of various regulating ecosystem services. However, intercropping also introduces diverse competition effects between the mixing partners, which can negatively impact their agronomic performance. Therefore, selecting complementary intercropping partners is the key to realizing a well-mixed crop production. Several specialized intercrop breeding concepts have been proposed to support the development of complementary varieties, but their practical implementation still needs to be improved. To lower this adoption threshold, we explore the potential of introducing minor adaptations to commonly used monocrop breeding strategies as an initial stepping stone towards implementing dedicated intercrop breeding schemes. While we acknowledge that recurrent selection for reciprocal mixing abilities is likely a more effective breeding paradigm to obtain genetic progress for intercrops, a well-considered adaptation of monoculture breeding strategies is far less intrusive concerning the design of the breeding programme and allows for balancing genetic gain for both monocrop and intercrop performance. The main idea is to develop compatible variety combinations by improving the monocrop performance in the two breeding pools in parallel and testing for intercrop performance in the later stages of selection. We show that the optimal stage for switching from monocrop to intercrop testing should be adapted to the specificity of the crop and the heritability of the traits involved. However, the genetic correlation between the monocrop and intercrop trait performance is the primary driver of the intercrop breeding scheme optimization process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Steven Maenhout
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Liu S, Wang L, Chang L, Khan I, Nadeem F, Rehman A, Suo R. Evaluating the influence of straw mulching and intercropping on nitrogen uptake, crop growth, and yield performance in maize and soybean. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1280382. [PMID: 37900744 PMCID: PMC10611467 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1280382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Intercropping and straw mulching are sustainable agricultural practices that can positively affect crop growth and development, especially together. Methods A split-plot experimental design was used to investigate the effects of intercropping and straw mulching on crop growth, crop yield, nitrogen uptake, and photosynthetic characteristics. The main plot focused on three planting patterns: soybean monoculture (S), maize monoculture (M), and maize/soybean intercropping (I). The subplot structure consisted of four levels of straw mulching (0, 4.8, 7.2, 9.6 t ha-1). Results Interaction and variance analyses showed that straw mulching, intercropping, and their interaction had significant effects on plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, nitrogen uptake, photosynthetic characteristics, and crop yield. Based on two-year averages for maize and soybean, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was up to 51.6% higher, stomatal conductance (Sc) was up to 44.0% higher, transpiration rate (Tr) was up to 46.6% higher, and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) was up to 25.7% lower relative to no mulching. The maximum increases of Pn, Sc, and Tr of intercropped maize were 15.48%, 17.28%, and 23.94%, respectively, and the maximum Ci was 17.75% lower than that of monoculture maize. The maximum increase of Pn, Sc, and Tr of monoculture soybean was 24.58%, 16.90%, and 17.91%, respectively, and the maximum Ci was 13.85% lower than that of intercropped soybean. The nitrogen uptake of maize and soybean in the mulching treatment was 24.3% higher than that in the non-mulching treatment; the nitrogen uptake of intercropped maize was 34.2% higher than that of monoculture maize, and the nitrogen uptake of monoculture soybean was 15.0% higher than that of intercropped soybean. The yield of maize and soybean in the mulching treatment was 66.6% higher than that in the non-mulching treatment, the maize yield under intercropping was 15.4% higher than that under monoculture, and the yield of monoculture soybean was 9.03% higher than that of intercropped soybean. Discussion The growth index and photosynthesis of crops are important parts of yield formation. The results of this study confirmed that straw mulching, intercropping, and their interaction can ultimately increase crop yield by improving crop growth, nitrogen uptake, and photosynthesis. This result can be used as the theoretical basis for the combined application of these measures in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siping Liu
- College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lixue Wang
- College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liang Chang
- College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ismail Khan
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Faisal Nadeem
- Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, DI Khan, KP, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Rehman
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Ran Suo
- Quality Supervision Department, Chaoyang City Water Engineering Quality and Safety Supervision Station, Chaoyang, China
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Raza MA, Din AMU, Zhiqi W, Gul H, Ur Rehman S, Bukhari B, Haider I, Rahman MHU, Liang X, Luo S, El Sabagh A, Qin R, Zhongming M. Spatial differences influence nitrogen uptake, grain yield, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping systems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16916. [PMID: 37805552 PMCID: PMC10560251 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43288-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cereal/legume intercropping is becoming a popular production strategy for higher crop yields and net profits with reduced inputs and environmental impact. However, the effects of different spatial arrangements on the growth, grain yield, nitrogen uptake, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping are still unclear, particularly under arid irrigated conditions. Therefore, in a three-year field study from 2018 to 2021, soybean was relay intercropped with wheat in different crop configurations (0.9 m, narrow strips; 1.8 m, medium strips; and 2.7 m, wide strips), and the results of intercropping systems were compared with their sole systems. Results revealed that intercrops with wide strips outperformed the narrow and medium strips, when the objective was to obtain higher total leaf area, dry matter, nitrogen uptake, and grain yield on a given land area due to reduced interspecific competition between intercrops. Specifically, at maturity, wide strips increased the dry matter accumulation (37% and 58%) and its distribution in roots (37% and 55%), straw (40% and 61%), and grains (30% and 46%) of wheat and soybean, respectively, compared to narrow strips. This enhanced dry matter in wide strips improved the soybean's competitive ability (by 17%) but reduced the wheat's competitive ability (by 12%) compared with narrow strips. Noticeably, all intercropping systems accumulated a significantly higher amount of nitrogen than sole systems, revealing that wheat/soybean relay intercropping requires fewer anthropogenic inputs (nitrogen) and exerts less pressure on the ecosystem than sole systems. Overall, in wide strips, intercropped wheat and soybean achieved 62% and 71% of sole wheat and soybean yield, respectively, which increased the greater total system yield (by 19%), total land equivalent ratio (by 24%), and net profit (by 34%) of wide strips compared to narrow strips. Our study, therefore, implies that the growth parameters, grain yields, nutrient accumulation, and land-use advantage of intercrop species could be improved with the proper spatial arrangement in cereal/legume intercropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Raza
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Atta Mohi Ud Din
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Wang Zhiqi
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hina Gul
- National Center for Industrial Biotechnology, Arid Agricultural University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sana Ur Rehman
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Birra Bukhari
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Imran Haider
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | | | - Xue Liang
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Ayman El Sabagh
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, Turkey
| | - Ruijun Qin
- Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.
| | - Ma Zhongming
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
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Raza MA, Yasin HS, Gul H, Qin R, Mohi Ud Din A, Khalid MHB, Hussain S, Gitari H, Saeed A, Wang J, Rezaei-Chiyaneh E, Sabagh AE, Manzoor A, Fatima A, Ahmad S, Yang F, Skalicky M, Yang W. Maize/soybean strip intercropping produces higher crop yields and saves water under semi-arid conditions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1006720. [PMID: 36407615 PMCID: PMC9667818 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1006720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable increases in crop production require efficient use of resources, and intercropping can improve water use efficiency and land productivity at reduced inputs. Thus, in a three-year field experiment, the performance of maize/soybean strip intercropping system differing with maize plant density (6 maize plants m-2, low, D1; 8 maize plants m-2, medium, D2; and 10 maize plants m-2, high, D3) was evaluated in comparison with sole maize or soybean cropping system. Results revealed that among all intercropping treatments, D2 had a significantly higher total leaf area index (maize LAI + soybean LAI; 8.2), total dry matter production (maize dry matter + soybean dry matter; 361.5 g plant-1), and total grain yield (maize grain yield + soybean grain yield; 10122.5 kg ha-1) than D1 and D3, and also higher than sole maize (4.8, 338.7 g plant-1, and 9553.7 kg ha-1) and sole soybean (4.6, 64.8 g plant-1, and 1559.5 kg ha-1). The intercropped maize was more efficient in utilizing the radiation and water, with a radiation use efficiency of 3.5, 5.2, and 4.3 g MJ-1 and water use efficiency of 14.3, 16.2, and 13.3 kg ha-1 mm-1, while that of intercropped soybean was 2.5, 2.1, and 1.8 g MJ-1 and 2.1, 1.9, and 1.5 kg ha-1 mm-1 in D1, D2, and D3, respectively. In intercropping, the land and water equivalent ratios ranged from 1.22 to 1.55, demonstrating that it is a sustainable strategy to improve land and water use efficiencies; this maximization is likely associated with the species complementarities for radiation, water, and land in time and space, which resulted in part from competition avoidance responses that maximize the economic profit (e. g., 1300 US $ ha-1 in D2) over sole maize (798 US $ ha-1) or sole soybean (703 US $ ha-1). Overall, these results indicate that optimizing strip intercropping systems can save 20-50% of water and land, especially under the present scenario of limited resources and climate change. However, further research is required to fully understand the resource capture mechanisms of intercrops in intercropping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Raza
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Hassan Shehryar Yasin
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Hina Gul
- National Center for Industrial Biotechnology, Pir Mehar Ali Shah-Arid Agricultural University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Ruijun Qin
- Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Hermiston, OR, United States
| | - Atta Mohi Ud Din
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Muhammad Hayder Bin Khalid
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sajad Hussain
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Harun Gitari
- Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Amjed Saeed
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Jun Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, Xian, China
| | - Esmaeil Rezaei-Chiyaneh
- Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ayman El Sabagh
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, Turkey
| | - Amir Manzoor
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Akash Fatima
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Feng Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Milan Skalicky
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Wenyu Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Šarūnaitė L, Toleikienė M, Arlauskienė A, Razbadauskienė K, Deveikytė I, Supronienė S, Semaškienė R, Kadžiulienė Ž. Effects of Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) Cultivars for Mixed Cropping with Oats ( Avena sativa L.) on Yield and Competition Indices in an Organic Production System. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2936. [PMID: 36365389 PMCID: PMC9656400 DOI: 10.3390/plants11212936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The benefits of cereal-legume mixed cropping is a sustainable agricultural practice. However, knowledge of the genotypic differences of semi-leafless pea varieties is not enough to help them compete with cereals. In this study, the effects of Lithuania's newest Pisum sativum cultivars ('Egle DS' and 'Lina DS') and, for comparison, a control cultivar ('Jūra DS') established with Avena sativa in mixed cropping system were investigated. Three years of field trials (2018, 2019 and 2020) with four experiments involved three different mixtures of each field pea cultivar with oat. The aboveground biomass of mixed cropped new field pea cultivars was found to be significantly higher: biomass of cultivars 'Egle DS' increased by 17.0% and 'Lina DS' by 7.2% on average compared with the control cultivar 'Jūra DS'. For the mixed cropping system, statistically greater total aboveground biomass was observed with plant ratios of 50% pea + 50% oat and 60% pea + 40% oat compared to peas monocultures. Mixed cropped oat was the dominant species in all tested mixture compositions; however, the highest total grain yield of mixed crops was obtained when new pea 'Lina DS' and 'Egle DS' cultivars were included in the mixtures compared with the control cultivar. The new pea cultivar 'Egle DS' had a greater effect on protein content compared to other tested pea cultivars. In the new pea cultivars 'Lina DS' and 'Egle DS', the higher photosynthetic capacity and aboveground biomass of mixed cropped pea with oat showed mixture effects in the mixed cropped system and could increase total yield compared with pea monoculture. Generally, the new pea cultivars displayed a greater Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) value, resulting in the greatest yield among the mixtures on average for all three years and all four experiments. Future research could optimize the effects of pea cultivar mixtures with cereals to further improve the yield of organic mixed cropping systems.
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Bai YC, Li BX, Xu CY, Raza M, Wang Q, Wang QZ, Fu YN, Hu JY, Imoulan A, Hussain M, Xu YJ. Intercropping Walnut and Tea: Effects on Soil Nutrients, Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:852342. [PMID: 35369467 PMCID: PMC8971985 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.852342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The practice of intercropping, which involves growing more than one crop simultaneously during the same growing season, is becoming more important for increasing soil quality, land-use efficiency, and subsequently crop productivity. The present study examined changes in soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activity, and microbial community composition when walnut (Juglans spp.) was intercropped with tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants in a forest and compared with a walnut and tea monocropping system. The results showed that walnut–tea intercropping improved the soil nutrient profile and enzymatic activity. The soil available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM) content, and sucrase activity were significantly boosted in intercropped walnut and tea than in monocropping forests. The interaction between crops further increased bacterial and fungal diversity when compared to monoculture tea forests. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chlamydiae, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota were found in greater abundance in an intercropping pattern than in monoculture walnut and tea forest plantations. The walnut–tea intercropping system also markedly impacted the abundance of several bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were previously shown to support nutrient cycling, prevent diseases, and ameliorate abiotic stress. The results of this study suggest that intercropping walnut with tea increased host fitness and growth by positively influencing soil microbial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Chao Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | | | - Mubashar Raza
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Zhu Wang
- Center for Walnut Technology of Baokang County, Xiangyang, China
| | - Ya-Nan Fu
- Center for Walnut Technology of Baokang County, Xiangyang, China
| | - Jian-Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of the Discovery and Development of Novel Pesticides, Shenyang Sinochem Agrochemicals R&D Co., Ltd., Shenyang, China
| | - Abdessamad Imoulan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technics of Errachidia, Mouly Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
| | - Muzammil Hussain
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Jie Xu
- Hubei Academy of Forestry, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yong-Jie Xu,
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Singh D, Mathimaran N, Sekar J, Ramalingam PV, Perisamy Y, Raju K, Raj R, King IO, Nanjundegowda TM, Narayanswamy MB, Chikkegowda BN, Siddegowda SM, Bagyaraj DJ, Mäder P, Boller T, Kahmen A. Spatial Arrangement and Biofertilizers Enhance the Performance of Legume—Millet Intercropping System in Rainfed Areas of Southern India. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.711284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercropping is a well-established practice to enhance the yield in low-input agriculture, and beneficial microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) combined with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are being used as an effective and sustainable measure to improve yields. In this study, we tested if biofertilizers can not only enhance the yield of crops in monoculture as has previously been demonstrated but can also enhance the yield of intercropping systems. We hypothesized that because AMF can form common mycorrhizal networks (CMN) that can transfer nutrients and water between different plant species, biofertilization can balance belowground competition between crop species and promote thus overall yields in intercropping systems. In our study, we used a pigeon pea (PP)—finger millet (FM) intercropping system that we grew for two consecutive growing seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18) at two contrasting sites in Bengaluru and Kolli Hills, India. We also tested if the spatial arrangement (i.e., different arrangement of component plants with similar plant density in intercropping system) of intercropped plants, using either a row-wise or a mosaic design, influences the effect of biofertilizers on yield and water relations of the PP-FM intercropping system. Our results demonstrate that intercropping can improve the straw and grain yield of PP and FM compared to the respective monocultures and that intercropping effects vary depending on the site characteristic such as climate and soil type. The spatial arrangement of component plants affected the total, straw, and grain biomass in intercropping treatments, but this effect also varied across sites. Most importantly, the results from the 2017/18 growing season clearly demonstrated a positive effect of biofertilizer on biomass yield, and this effect was irrespective of site, spatial arrangement, mixed or monoculture. Our study therefore shows that yield increase in intercropping systems can further be improved through the application of biofertilizers.
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Gao H, Li S, Wu F. Impact of Intercropping on the Diazotrophic Community in the Soils of Continuous Cucumber Cropping Systems. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:630302. [PMID: 33868191 PMCID: PMC8044418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.630302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diazotrophs are important soil components that help replenish biologically available nitrogen (N) in the soil and contribute to minimizing the use of inorganic N fertilizers in agricultural ecosystems. However, there is little understanding of how diazotrophs respond to intercropping and soil physicochemical properties in cucumber continuous cropping systems. In this study, using the nifH gene as a marker, we have examined the impacts of seven intercropping plants on diazotrophic community diversity and composition compared to a cucumber continuous cropping system during two cropping seasons. The results showed that intercropping increased the abundance of the nifH gene, which was negatively correlated with available phosphorous in the fall. Diazotrophic diversity and richness were higher in the rape-cucumber system than in the monoculture. Multivariate regression tree analysis revealed that the diversity of the diazotrophic communties was shaped mainly by soil moisture and available phosphorous. Skermanella were the dominant genera in all of the samples, which increased significantly in the mustard-cucumber system in the fall. There was no effect of intercropping on the structure of the diazotrophic community in this case. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that cropping season had a greater effect than intercropping on the community structure of the diazotrophs. Overall, our results suggest that intercropping altered the abundance and diversity rather than the structure of the diazotrophic community, which may potentially affect the N fixation ability of continuous cropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Gao
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Sen Li
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Fengzhi Wu
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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Pariz CM, Costa NR, Costa C, Crusciol CAC, de Castilhos AM, Meirelles PRDL, Calonego JC, Andreotti M, Souza DMD, Cruz IV, Longhini VZ, Protes VM, Sarto JRW, Piza MLSDT, Melo VFDP, Sereia RC, Fachiolli DF, Almeida FAD, Souza LGMD, Franzluebbers AJ. An Innovative Corn to Silage-Grass-Legume Intercropping System With Oversown Black Oat and Soybean to Silage in Succession for the Improvement of Nutrient Cycling. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.544996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of sustainable tropical agriculture, an innovative corn (Zea maysL.) to silage-grass-legume intercropping system can promotes plant diversity, improves agronomic performance and land-use efficiency, and increases the yield of oversown black oat (Avena strigosaSchreb) and soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] to silage in succession. Thus, during three growing seasons on a Typic Haplorthox in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, four treatments of a corn to silage production system were implemented in summer/autumn with black oat oversown in winter/spring: (1) corn intercropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha“Marandu”) and black oat overseeded in lines; (2) corn intercropped with palisade grass and black oat overseeded in a broadcast system with superficial incorporation; (3) corn intercropped with palisade grass + pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.] and black oat overseeded in lines; and (4) corn intercropped with palisade grass + pigeon pea and black oat overseeded in a broadcast system with superficial incorporation. During winter/spring, the black oat pastures were grazed by lambs, but results on forage allowance and nutritive value for animal grazing and on animal performance are not reported in the present manuscript. In the fourth growing season, the effect of soybean to silage intercropped with guinea grass (Panicum maximum“Aruana”), with only a residual effect of the four production systems from the previous three growing seasons, was evaluated. Despite greater interspecific competition of palisade grass and pigeon pea intercropped with corn, this more complex system produced better results. Thus, when analyzing this system as a whole, the triple intercrop (corn + pigeon pea + palisade grass) combined with oversown black oat in lines was the most effective option for silage production and for the improvement of other elements of system productivity, such higher surface mulch quantity, leaf nutrient concentrations, and yield of soybean to silage intercropped with guinea grass. This intercrop also generated better nutrient cycling because an increased quantity of nutrients was retained in standing plant residue and surface mulch, which resulted in better land- and nutrient-use efficiency, with an emphasis on nitrogen and potassium.
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Raza MA, Bin Khalid MH, Zhang X, Feng LY, Khan I, Hassan MJ, Ahmed M, Ansar M, Chen YK, Fan YF, Yang F, Yang W. Effect of planting patterns on yield, nutrient accumulation and distribution in maize and soybean under relay intercropping systems. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4947. [PMID: 30894625 PMCID: PMC6426961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41364-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Planting patterns affect nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) acquisition and distribution in maize and soybean under intercropping conditions. Here we reveal that strip relay-intercropping increases the N, P, and K uptake and distribution across plant organs (root, straw, and seed) of maize and soybean, accelerates the dry-matter production of intercrop-species, and compensates the slight maize yield loss by considerably increasing the soybean yield. In a two-year experiment, soybean was planted with maize in different planting patterns (SI, 50:50 cm and SII, 40:160 cm) of relay-intercropping, both planting patterns were compared with sole cropping of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). As compared to SI, SII increased the N, P, and K accumulation in each organ of soybean by 20, 32, and 18 (root) %, 71, 61, and 76 (straw) %, and 68, 65, and 62 (seed) %, respectively, whereas decreased the N, P, and K accumulation in each organ of maize by 1, 4, and 8 (root) %, 1, 10, and 3 (straw) %, and 5, 10, and 8 (seed) %, respectively. Overall, in SII, relay-cropped soybean accumulated 91% of total nutrient uptake (TNU) of sole soybean plants, and relay-cropped maize accumulated 94% of TNU of sole maize plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Raza
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China
| | - Muhammad Hayder Bin Khalid
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Xia Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China
| | - Ling Yang Feng
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Grassland Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Muhammad Jawad Hassan
- Department of Grassland Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Mukhtar Ahmed
- Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ansar
- Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Yuan Kai Chen
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Fang Fan
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China
| | - Feng Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China.
| | - Wenyu Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.
- China Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in Southwest, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 611130, P.R. China.
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