Facilitative Root Interactions in Intercrops

Facilitation takes place when plants ameliorate the environment of their neighbours, and increase their growth and survival. Facilitation occurs in natural ecosystems as well as in agroecosystems. We discuss examples of facilitative root interactions in intercropped agroecosystems; including nitrogen transfer between legumes and non-leguminous plants, exploitation of the soil via mycorrhizal fungi and soil-plant processes which alter the mobilisation of plant growth resources such as through exudation of amino acids, extra-cellular enzymes, acidification, competition-induced modification of root architecture, exudation of growth stimulating substances, and biofumigation. Facilitative root interactions are most likely to be of importance in nutrient poor soils and in low-input agroecosystems due to critical interspecific competition for plant growth factors. However, studies from more intensified cropping systems using chemical and mechanical inputs also show that facilitative interactions definitely can be of significance. It is concluded that a better understanding of the mechanisms behind facilitative interactions may allow us to benefit more from these phenomena in agriculture and environmental management.     

Co-Planting Cd Contaminated Field Using Hyperaccumulator Solanum Nigrum L. Through Interplant with Low Accumulation Welsh Onion

Monoculture and intercrop of hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. with low accumulation Welsh onion Renbentieganchongwang were conducted. The results showed that the remove ratio of S. nigrum to Cd was about 7% in intercrop plot when top soil (0–20 cm) Cd concentration was 0.45–0.62 mg kg^?1, which did not significantly impact the yield of low accumulation Welsh onion compared to the monoculture. The consistency of remove ratio in practice and theory indicated the remediation of S. nigrum to Cd was significant. The Cd concentration and yield of Welsh onion were not affected by the growth of S. nigrum either in intercrop plot. The Cd concentration in edible parts of Welsh onion was available either. In short, inter-planting hyperaccumulator with low accumulation crop could normally remediate contaminated soil and produce crop (obtain economic benefit), which may be one practical pathway of phytoremediating heavy metal contaminated soil in the future.     

Effects of plot vegetation diversity and spatial scale on Coccinella septempunctata movement in the absence of prey

The influence that vegetation diversity and the spatial scale of that diversity exert on insect behavior has increasingly been explored in the ecological literature, but relatively few experiments have explicitly incorporated both factors in experimental treatments. We conducted a field study designed to explore the effect of both of these factors on insect movement behavior in a broccoli agroecosystem. We caught and released seven‐spotted ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata L.) in plots containing different degrees of vegetation diversity at two different spatial scales in which prey had been removed. Beetle movement was recorded at timed intervals, and move lengths and turning angles were used to generate discrete path maps for each beetle. Observed mean beetle net squared displacements were compared with predicted net squared displacements, and 95% confidence intervals were generated using a bootstrap method described by Turchin (1998 ) [Quantitative Analysis of Movement: Measuring and Modeling Population Redistribution in Animals and Plants. Sinauer Associates Inc., Sunderland, MA.]. Predicted net squared displacements underestimated beetle movement in smaller plots with both low and higher vegetation diversity for the first five move lengths, whereas no significant difference between observed and predicted net squared displacement for beetles in larger plots of either level of vegetation diversity were detected. These findings highlight the need for a better understanding of how natural enemies are influenced by vegetation diversity and the spatial scale of that vegetation in agroecosystems. The implications of these results for biological control are discussed.     

燕麦-绿豆间作效应及氮素转移特性

为探究燕麦(Avena sativa)-绿豆(Phaseolus radiatus)间作效应及氮素转移特性, 在不施氮肥的大田试验条件下, 设置3种种植模式(燕麦单作、绿豆单作和燕麦-绿豆间作), 采用传统挖根法和¹⁵N同位素标记法进行研究。结果表明, 间作系统中燕麦侵袭力强于绿豆, 绿豆生长受到抑制。整个生育期, 间作燕麦地上部干物质积累量比单作增加14.9%-33.1%, 2年成熟期间作燕麦的氮素积累量比单作分别提高53.1%和44.8%; 间作减少了开花结荚期绿豆氮素积累量和根瘤重量, 降低了绿豆的固氮效率, 绿豆的固氮效率2年平均降低23.7%, 生物固氮量平均减少11.66%。间作绿豆向燕麦的氮素转移率2年平均值达31.7%, 氮素转移量为212.16 kg∙hm^-2。燕麦-绿豆间作降低了开花结荚期绿豆的根瘤固氮酶活性和固氮效率, 但绿豆体内氮素转移增加了燕麦对氮素的吸收利用, 实现了地上部与地下部生长的相互调节和促进, 优化了农田生态系统的氮素管理。     

间作药材与接种内生真菌对连作花生土壤微生物区系及产量的影响

利用盆栽试验研究了药用植物间作及接种内生菌拟茎点霉B3的菌丝对连作花生(Archis hypogaea)红壤微生物区系及花生产量的影响,以探索花生连作障碍的生物防治措施。结果表明,药材间作和接种B3能够显著减少土壤霉菌数量、增加土壤细菌数量和土壤蔗糖酶活性,增加花生超氧化物歧化酶(SOD酶)活性和花生产量。与花生单作相比,茅苍术(Atractylodes lancea)/京大戟(Euphorbia pekinensis)间作花生产量增加9%-22%,接种B3处理花生产量增加24%。茅苍术/京大戟和花生间作处理配合接种B3后,花生产量分别较未接种B3处理增加30%和4%。其中茅苍术花生间作配合接种B3处理的花生产量最高,比对照(P)花生产量高59%,比单独接种B3处理(PB3)的花生产量高28%;京大戟花生间作配合接种B3处理(PEB3)的花生产量比对照增加13%,但不及单独接种B3处理(PB3)。这表明茅苍术间作和接种B3具有协同提高花生产量的作用,而京大戟或许对B3的功能发挥有一定抑制作用。     

Soil Metal Sorption Characteristics and its Influence on the Comparative Effectiveness of EDTA and Legume Intercrop on the Phytoremediative Abilities of Maize (Zea mays), Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

Heavy metal pollution in soils and the high costs of remediation necessitate the evaluation of cheaper alternatives. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu sorption characteristics of three soils and their influence on the comparative effectiveness of EDTA and legume intercrop on the remediative abilities of maize, mucuna, okra, and kenaf. The sorption studies were done using standard procedures. The EDTA-assisted phytoextraction (6 mmol kg^?1) and the cowpea intercrop trials were conducted in triplicate. The metal-spiked soils were planted with maize, kenaf, and mucuna in the EDTA trial and maize, kenaf, and okra were planted in the cowpea intercrop experiment. Cadmium was prefentially sorbed in acid and alkaline soils and Cu in slightly acid soil. Cadmium uptake was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in all the plants. Bioconcentration factors of Pb, Cu, and Zn were higher (P < 0.05) in maize compared with other plants. Phytoremediative ability of the plants in trials were maize > kenaf > mucuna and okra > maize > kenaf, respectively. It was concluded that a legume intercrop can substitute EDTA- assisted phytoextraction to prevent groundwater contamination resulting from high solubility of metals by EDTA.     

茶园间作不同绿肥对节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响

【目的】研究在茶园中合理间作绿肥对茶园节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响。【方法】本文在茶园中分别设间作铺地木兰+罗顿豆、圆叶决明+白三叶、白三叶+平托花生3种不同绿肥组合处理,并设不间作绿肥、常规除草的茶园为对照。【结果】间作不同绿肥均能提高茶园节肢动物群落的物种丰富度和群落多样性,提高茶园捕食性天敌昆虫、蜘蛛和寄生性天敌在茶园冠层群落的比率;不同处理茶园冠层节肢动物Shannon-wiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)和均匀度指数变化趋势基本一致;茶冠层的节肢动物群落多样性指数在4类不同处理茶园间差异显著;间作绿肥增加了茶园的生物多样性,4类不同处理茶园茶冠层群落相似性系数在0.741~0.892之间,表明4类不同处理茶园冠层群落在物种组成上有较高的相似性。4类不同处理茶园害虫与天敌两类群功能团的丰盛度之间成显著的正相关,表明天敌对害虫的空间数量跟随效应强,主要表现为二者数量间的相互作用。灰色关联度分析表明在4类不同处理茶园中的群落节肢动物物种数/个体数、天敌物种数/害虫物种数、害虫丰富度与多样性指数和均匀度指数的关联系数较高,反应了群落的多样性和稳定性。【结论】间作增强了茶园群落的生物多样性,提高害虫天敌的种类和个体数,有利有效发挥天敌对有害生物的生态控制。     

苦李山茱萸或板栗与茶间作增进昆虫多样性的效应

为探讨间作对于茶园昆虫群落多样性和群落结构的影响,遂于皖南山区石台县选苦李-茶、山茱萸-茶、板栗-茶间作茶园,邻近每类间作茶园、选择相同品种和同样立地条件的纯茶园作为对照,2007年1月-2009年1月,每月上旬调查这6块茶园昆虫、蜘蛛和捕食螨种数和个体数。结果表明:①与对照茶园相比,间作茶园昆虫的总物种数、总多样性指数稍大,间作茶园的天敌个体数稍多、益害生物的个体数量比值稍大;②间作对茶园昆虫的总个体数有影响。结果表明茶园间作可在一定程度上增加昆虫多样性。     

Intercrops, Cicadulina spp., and maize streak virus disease

Intercrops of bean and finger millet were tested as a possible means of controlling maize streak virus disease (MSVD) in maize by disrupting the mating behaviour of the insect vectors of the maize streak virus, Cicadulina mbila and C. storeyi. A series of three trials were done. In the first, MSVD incidence 2 months after sowing was reduced to 14.9% and 17.4% in millet and bean intercrops compared to 29.5% in the pure maize stand. The number of male Cicadulina spp. caught on sticky pole traps was also significantly reduced relative to the control, but there was little effect on the catch of females. There was no significant yield penalty for the millet intercrop but maize yield was 49% lower in the bean intercrop treatment than in the pure stand. In the second trial, there were two millet and two bean intercrop treatments and a maize only control. Fewer male Cicadulina spp. were caught in the intercrop treatments relative to the control but MSVD incidence was reduced in one millet intercrop treatment only for which the associated maize yield penalty was 89%. In the final trial the bean intercrop was again tested but it had no effect on MSVD incidence. These experiments demonstrated that intercropping maize with bean or millet decreased vector activity and/or vector numbers. Vector catches were predominantly male, and catches of males but not females were reduced in the intercrop treatments compared with pure stands. However the lower vector catch was not consistently associated with a significant reduction in MSVD incidence, and when it was there was often an associated yield penalty in the maize due to the intercrop.     

Combining intercropping with semiochemical releases: optimization of alternative control of Sitobion avenae in wheat crops in China

Overreliance on pesticides has large environmental and human health costs that compel researchers and farmers to seek alternative management tactics for crop pests. For insect pests, increasing crop species diversity via intercropping and using semiochemicals to alter local arthropod populations have separately proven effective at reducing pest densities. Here, we combine these two tactics in an effort to gain better control of Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the English grain aphid, a major pest of cereal production worldwide. We conducted field experiments over 2 years testing the effectiveness of combining intercropping of wheat and oilseed rape with release of methyl salicylate (MeSA). We found that maximum and mean aphid densities were highest in wheat monocultures, significantly lower in intercropped plots and MeSA plots, and lowest when intercropping and MeSA release were combined by obtaining highest densities of predatory lady beetles and parasitoids rates. Importantly, grain yield and quality showed a similar pattern: they were highest for combined intercropped/MeSA plots, intermediate in plots with intercropping or MeSA alone, and lowest in control monoculture plots. Our results suggest that combining these two tactics holds significant promise for improved management of aphid populations and emphasize the need to integrate alternative pest control approaches to optimize sustainable insect pest management.