小麦蚕豆间作对蚕豆根际微生物群落功能多样性的影响及其与蚕豆枯萎病发生的关系

通过田间小区试验,研究了小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病发生和根际微生物代谢功能多样性的影响。结果表明,小麦与蚕豆间作使蚕豆枯萎病的发病率和病情指数分别比单作显著降低20%和30.4%。与单作处理相比,间作显著增加了蚕豆和小麦根际微生物对31种碳源的平均利用率（AWCD）,其中间作蚕豆的AWCD值最高,比单作增加82.7%,单作蚕豆最低。间作蚕豆和间作小麦根际微生物的Shannon多样性指数与丰富度指数均显著高于单作,间作使蚕豆和小麦的丰富度指数分别增加29.2%和30.3%。根际微生物对六类碳源的利用强度百分比以糖类、羧酸类和氨基酸最高,分别为41.96%,19.80%和18.13%。主成分分析表明,小麦与蚕豆间作改变了根际微生物的群落组成;相关分析表明,糖类、羧酸类和氨基酸类碳源是区分单间作处理差异的主要碳源,其中氨基酸类碳源是最敏感的碳源。小麦与蚕豆间作增加了根际微生物活性,提高了Shannon多样性指数和丰富度指数,改变了微生物群落功能多样性,是抑制蚕豆枯萎病的有效措施。该研究为阐明根际微生物功能多样性变化在间作体系病害控制中的作用与机制奠定了理论基础。     

小麦/蚕豆间作作物生长曲线的模拟及种间互作分析

物种间的相互作用与间作产量优势的形成密切相关,但很少有人注意到种间互作动态.本研究通过2年田间定位试验,运用Logistic分析模拟了不同种植模式(小麦单作、蚕豆单作和小麦/蚕豆间作)和不同磷水平下[P₀,施磷量(P₂O₅)为0 kg·hm^-2(对照);P₁,施磷量(P₂O₅)为45 kg·hm^-2;P₂,施磷量(P₂O₅)为90 kg·hm^-2]单间作小麦、蚕豆的生长模型,分析了作物种间互作的动态变化.结果表明: 小麦/蚕豆间作使小麦产量提高了10.5%~18.6%,蚕豆产量却降低了4.8%~12.3%,但间作系统仍具有产量优势,土地当量比(LER)和相对拥挤系数(K)分别为1.01~1.15 和1.12~3.20.小麦和蚕豆的产量及关键生长参数均受磷水平调控,但LER和K并不受磷水平影响.与单作相比,间作小麦的最大生长速率(R_max)和最初生长速率(r)分别提高21.8%~38.7%和20.7%~38.9%,但间作对蚕豆的关键生长参数无影响.在小麦、蚕豆的生长初期,不同磷水平下,单间作作物的生长曲线无差异;间作群体以种间竞争为主,无间作生物量优势(LER<1,K<1).当蚕豆达到最大生长速率(T_max)后,间作显著提高了小麦的生长速率,降低了小麦的种内竞争压力,表现出间作生物量和产量优势(LER>1,K>1).总之,在不同的生长发育阶段,小麦、蚕豆的相互作用不同,间作提高了中后期小麦的生长速率,为间作优势的形成奠定了基础.     

The Dynamic Process of Interspecific Interactions of Competitive Nitrogen Capture between Intercropped Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) intercropping shows significant overyielding and high nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, but the dynamics of plant interactions have rarely been estimated. The objective of the present study was to investigate the temporal dynamics of competitive N acquisition between intercropped wheat and faba bean with the logistic model. Wheat and faba bean were grown together or alone with limited N supply in pots. Data of shoot and root biomass and N content measured from 14 samplings were fitted to logistic models to determine instantaneous rates of growth and N uptake. The superiority of instantaneous biomass production and N uptake shifted from faba bean to wheat with their growth. Moreover, the shift of superiority on N uptake occurred 7–12 days earlier than that of biomass production. Interspecific competition stimulated intercropped wheat to have a much earlier and stronger superiority on instantaneous N uptake compared with isolated wheat. The modeling methodology characterized the temporal dynamics of biomass production and N uptake of intercropped wheat and faba bean in different planting systems, which helps to understand the underlying process of plant interaction for intercropping plants.     

小麦-蚕豆间作条件下氮肥施用量对根际微生物区系的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究了小麦/蚕豆间作条件下4种施氮水平(0、90、180和270 kg·hm^-2)对根际微生物区系和多样性的影响.结果表明：在整个生育期,微生物数量有一定的波动,但均以开花期数量最高.与单作相比,间作显著增加了小麦和蚕豆根际的细菌、真菌、放线菌数量和微生物总量,而显著降低了开花期和成熟期蚕豆根际的微生物多样性.在不施氮（N₀）和低氮（N₉₀）水平下,间作与单作在微生物数量上的差异较大.间作对土壤微生物数量的促进效应在分蘖期和开花期最大,成熟期显著降低.小麦根际的微生物数量随施氮量的增加先增加后降低,以常规施氮处理（N₁₈₀）的微生物数量最多,氮肥用量对单作小麦的影响大于间作小麦. 施氮量对蚕豆根际细菌、真菌、放线菌数量和微生物多样性无显著影响,但降低了间作蚕豆根际微生物总量.适量施用氮肥能有效调节根际微生物区系,间作系统地上部植物多样性与地下部微生物区系间存在紧密联系.     

Crop nitrogen use and soil mineral nitrogen accumulation under different crop combinations and patterns of strip intercropping in northwest China

Increasing crop nitrogen use efficiency while also simultaneously decreasing nitrogen accumulation in the soil would be key steps in controlling nitrogen pollution from agricultural systems. Long-term field experiments were started in 2003 to study the effects of intercropping on crop N use and soil mineral N accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv 2014)/maize (Zea mays L. cv Shendan16), wheat/faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv Lincan No. 5) and maize/faba bean intercropping and monocropping systems. Monocropping was compared with two types of strip intercropping: continuous intercropping (two crops intercropped continuously on the same strips of land every year) and rotational intercropping (two crops grown adjacently and rotated to the other crop??s strip every year). Maize/faba bean intercropping had greater crop N uptake than did wheat/faba bean or wheat/maize. Wheat/maize accumulated more mineral N in the top 140 cm of the soil profile during the co-growth stage from maize emergence to maturity of wheat or faba bean. Continuously intercropped maize substantially decreased soil mineral N accumulation under wheat and faba bean rows (60?C100 cm soil depth) at maize harvest. Soil mineral N accumulation under wheat rows increased with rotational intercropping with faba bean. Rotational intercropping may potentially alleviate the adverse effects of wheat on N use by other crops and increase the nitrogen harvest index of wheat, maize and faba bean. Intercropping using species with different maturity dates may be more effective in increasing crop N use efficiency and decreasing soil mineral N accumulation.     

不同品种小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病的防治及其机理

通过田间小区试验和水培试验,研究了3个品种小麦（云麦42、云麦47和绵阳29）与蚕豆间作对蚕豆地上部生物量、枯萎病发生、根际微生物代谢功能多样性和枯萎病病原菌尖孢镰刀菌数量的影响,分析了3个不同小麦品种低分子量根系分泌物组分（糖、氨基酸和有机酸）的差异.结果表明： 云麦42与蚕豆间作（YM42/B）和云麦47与蚕豆间作（YM47/B）使蚕豆地上部生物量分别增加16.6%和13.4%,使蚕豆枯萎病病情指数分别降低47.6%和23.3%,绵阳29与蚕豆间作（MY29/B）对蚕豆地上部生物量和枯萎病病情指数均无显著影响.与单作蚕豆相比,YM42/B和YM47/B处理均显著提高了蚕豆根际微生物的平均颜色变化率（AWCD)及对碳源的总利用强度和Biolog ECO板中各种碳源的利用,明显改变了蚕豆根际微生物群落结构,并显著降低了蚕豆根际的尖孢镰刀菌数量;MY29/B处理对AWCD值、碳源总利用强度和Biolog ECO板中各种碳源的利用及蚕豆根际尖孢镰刀菌数量均无显著影响,也未明显改变蚕豆根际的微生物群落结构.3个小麦品种根系分泌物中可溶性糖、游离氨基酸总量和有机酸总量均表现为MY29＞YM47＞YM42.MY29根系分泌物中丝氨酸、谷氨酸、甘氨酸、缬氨酸、蛋氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸的含量均显著高于YM42和YM47;精氨酸为YM42、YM47所特有,而亮氨酸为MY29所特有.MY29和YM47根系分泌物中检出酒石酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸、琥珀酸、延胡索酸和顺乌头酸6种有机酸,而YM42根系分泌物中检出洒石酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸和延胡索酸4种有机酸,且MY29和YM47根系分泌物中苹果酸含量显著高于YM42.小麦与蚕豆间作提高了蚕豆根际微生物的活性和碳源利用强度,改变了根际微生物的群落结构,降低了蚕豆根际尖孢镰刀菌的数量,促进了蚕豆生长,抑制了蚕豆枯萎病的发生,但小麦与蚕豆间作控病效果受小麦品种的影响,表明间作系统中非寄主作物根系分泌物的差异是影响间作对土传病害控制的重要因素.     

施氮对间作蚕豆根际微生物区系和枯萎病发生的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究了小麦、蚕豆间作条件下4个施氮水平(0,56.25,112.5kg.hm-2和168.75kg.hm-2)对蚕豆根际微生物区系和蚕豆枯萎病发生的影响。结果表明,单作和间作条件下,施氮显著增加了蚕豆根际的微生物数量,在N2(112.5kg.hm-2)水平下达到最高值;施氮对土壤微生物多样性无显著影响,但减轻了单、间作蚕豆枯萎病的发生,且在N2水平下发病最轻。与单作相比,间作显著增加了蚕豆根际的细菌、真菌、放线菌数量、微生物总数和微生物多样性,尤其在N0、N1(56.25kg.hm-2)和N2(112.5kg.hm-2)水平下间作对蚕豆根际微生物的促进效应明显,且以真菌和放线菌的增幅较大.N0、N1和N2水平下间作显著降低了蚕豆枯萎病的发病率和病情指数。小麦蚕豆间作下适量施氮能有效调节蚕豆根际微生物区系,是抑制蚕豆枯萎病发生的有效措施。     

The role of maize root size in phosphorus uptake and productivity of maize/faba bean and maize/wheat intercropping systems

Interspecific root/rhizosphere interactions affect phosphorus (P) uptake and the productivity of maize/faba bean and maize/wheat intercropping systems. The aim of these experiments was to determine whether manipulation of maize root growth could improve the productivity of the two intercropping systems. Two near isogenic maize hybrids (the larger-rooted T149 and smaller-rooted T222) were intercropped with faba bean and wheat, under conditions of high- and low-P availability. The larger-rooted T149 showed greater competitive ability than the smaller-rooted T222 in both maize/faba bean and maize/wheat intercropping systems. The higher competitive ability of T149 improved the productivity of the maize/faba bean intercropping system in P-sufficient conditions. In maize/wheat intercropping systems, root growth, shoot biomass, and P uptake of maize were inhibited by wheat, regardless of the P-supply. Compared with T222, the larger-rooted T149 suffered less in the intercropping systems. The total biomass of the maize/wheat intercropping system was higher for wheat/T149 than for wheat/T222 under low-P conditions. These data suggested that genetic improvement of maize root size could enhance maize growth and its ability to compete for P resources in maize/faba bean and maize/wheat intercropping systems. In addition, depending on the P availability, larger maize roots could increase the productivity of intercropping systems.     

小麦与蚕豆间作体系根系形态与磷吸收的定量解析

豆科与禾本科作物间作能够改变作物根系生长,但不同施磷水平下间作-根系形态-磷吸收之间的关系尚未明确。本研究通过田间定位试验和根箱模拟试验,研究不同种植模式(小麦单作、蚕豆单作和小麦-蚕豆间作)和不同磷水平下小麦和蚕豆的产量、生物量、磷吸收及根系形态特征,分析探讨不同施磷条件下小麦-蚕豆间作对根系形态和磷吸收的影响。结果表明: 根箱试验中,与单作相比,间作小麦的根干重、根冠比分别增加21.2%、61.5%,地上部干重降低14.6%,根系磷含量和总吸磷量分别提高23.8%和12.1%;间作蚕豆的地上部干重、根干重、根冠比、总根长和根体积分别增加16.5%、47.3%、24.0%、3.5%和8.4%,间作蚕豆地上部磷含量、根系磷含量和总吸磷量分别提高14.7%、26.2%和21.5%。田间试验中,与单作相比,分蘖期间作小麦地上部磷吸收量降低8.7%,而在拔节期、抽穗期、灌浆期和成熟期分别提高40.6%、19.7%、7.8%和12.4%;但种间互作导致开花期、结荚期和成熟期间作蚕豆的地上部磷吸收量分别降低9.8%、9.0%和5.2%。偏最小二乘法(PLS)回归分析表明,小麦的根表面积和根体积、蚕豆的根表面积对作物磷吸收的贡献最大,在低磷胁迫条件下,间作同时提高了小麦和蚕豆的根体积和根表面积,促进了磷的吸收。总之,在缺磷或低磷条件下,种间互作扩大了小麦和蚕豆根土接触面积,促进了苗期磷的吸收,为后期间作优势的形成奠定了基础。     

Changes in soil phosphorus fractions following sole cropped and intercropped maize and faba bean grown on calcareous soil

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the effects of coexistence with faba bean, a phosphorus (P)-efficient crop, on soil-accumulated P use by a maize/faba bean intercropping system on dynamic changes in soil P pool.

Methods

Maize and faba bean were grown in P-accumulated soil as either sole cropping or intercropping. After one year (Stage I) or four years (Stage II) of no P application, soil samples were collected respectively and analyzed for soil P pools using sequential fractionation. Aboveground biomass and P content were annually measured from 2013 to 2016 to assess the annual P balance.

Results

The intercropped maize/faba bean system showed a P-uptake advantage, with a Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) ranging from 1.2 to 1.5. The average shoot P content over the four years in intercropped maize and faba bean was significantly greater than that of the corresponding sole crops by 29% and 30%, respectively. Over the three-year P depletion period, the three cropping systems primarily depleted the 1 M HCl-P_i fraction, followed by sole maize, which depleted the NaOH-P_i and concentrated HCl-P_o fractions. Sole faba bean depleted the alkali-soluble P_o fraction (extracted by NaHCO₃ and NaOH), and the intercropped maize/faba bean system depleted the conc. HCl-P_o fraction, which was similar to the effect of sole maize.

Conclusions

Both sole crops and intercrops mainly depleted 1 M HCl-P_i, but differed in P_o depletion. Sole maize and maize/faba bean intercropping depleted the sparingly labile P_o fraction, while sole faba bean depleted the labile and moderately labile P_o fractions.

     

不同磷水平下小麦-蚕豆间作根系形态的变化及其与内源激素的关系

采用水培方法,研究了不同磷水平下小麦-蚕豆间作体系根系形态变化及其与内源激素的相关关系。结果表明: 与单作小麦相比,在低磷(1/2P)水平下,小麦-蚕豆间作能显著增加小麦的根长,显著减少小麦根系的平均直径,显著增加根系的表面积;在常规磷(P)水平下,间作能显著降低小麦根系的平均直径,有增加小麦根长和根表面积的趋势;与单作蚕豆相比,间作能明显促进蚕豆根系的增长,同时增加蚕豆根表面积。在1/2P水平下,间作能显著提高小麦和蚕豆根系中的生长素(IAA)、脱落酸(ABA)、水杨酸(SA)和茉莉酸(JA)含量;在P水平下,间作能显著提高小麦根系中的IAA、ABA和JA含量,单、间作小麦根系中的SA含量没有显著差异,间作显著增加了蚕豆根系中ABA和SA含量,单、间作蚕豆根系中的IAA和JA含量无显著差异。单作条件下,小麦和蚕豆根系中的内源激素(IAA、ABA、SA和JA)含量与其根系形态(根长、根平均直径和根表面积)无显著相关性;间作条件下,小麦和蚕豆根系中的IAA含量与根长和根表面积之间存在明显的正相关关系。由此可见,小麦-蚕豆间作能够诱导小麦和蚕豆根系IAA的增加。这种变化可能是驱动间作系统根系形态变化的重要因子。     

Nitrogen Fixation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Interacting with a Non-legume in Two Contrasting Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was carried out to quantify biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) using the ¹⁵N isotope natural abundance method in maize (Zea mays L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean intercropping systems. Faba bean was yielding more in the maize/faba bean intercropping, but not in the wheat/faba bean intercropping. Biomass, grain yield and N acquisition of faba bean were significantly increased when intercropped with maize, and decreased significantly with wheat, irrespective of N-fertilizer application, indicating that the legume could gain or lose productivity in an intercropping situation. There was yield advantage of maize/faba bean intercropping, but no in wheat/faba bean intercropping. The grain yield of the faba bean intercropped with maize was greater than that of faba bean monoculture due to increases of the stems per plant and the pods per stem of faba bean. N fertilization inhibited N fixation of faba bean in maize/faba bean and wheat/faba bean intercropping and faba bean monoculture. The responses of different cropping systems to N-fertilizer application, however, were not identical, with competitive intercropping (wheat/faba bean) being more sensitive than facilitative intercropping (maize/faba bean). Intercropping increased the percentage of N derived from air (%Ndfa) of the wheat/faba bean system, but not that of the maize/faba bean system when no N fertilizer was applied. When receiving 120 kg N/ha, however, intercropping did not significantly increase %Ndfa either in the wheat/faba bean system or in the maize/faba bean system in comparison with faba bean in monoculture. The amount of shoot N derived from air (Ndfa), however, increased significantly when intercropped with maize, irrespective of N-fertilizer application. Ndfa decreased when intercropped with wheat, albeit not significantly at 120 kg N/ha. Ndfa was correlated more closely with dry matter yield, grain yield and competitive ratio, than with %Ndfa. This indicates that that total dry matter yield (sink strength), not %Ndfa, was more critical for the legume to increase Ndfa. The results suggested that N fixation could be improved by yield maximization in an intercropping system.     

Phosphorus acquisition characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) under P deficient conditions

A rhizobox experiment was conducted to examine the P acquisition characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) under P-deficient conditions. We aimed to identify whether cotton is physiologically efficient at acquiring P through release of protons, phosphatases or carboxylates. Plants were pre-grown in the upper compartment of rhizoboxes filled with a sand and soil mixture to create a dense root mat against a 53 μm polyester mesh. For each species, two P treatments (0 and 20 mg P kg^?1) were applied to the upper compartment in order to create P-deficient and P-sufficient plants. At harvest, the upper compartment with intact plants was used for collection of root exudates while the lower soil compartment was sliced into thin layers (1 mm) parallel to the rhizoplane. Noticeable carboxylates release was only detected for white lupin. All P-deficient plants showed a capacity to acidify their rhizosphere soil to a distance of 3 mm. The activity of acid phosphatase was significantly enhanced in the soil-root interfaces of P-stressed cotton and wheat. Under P-deficient conditions, the P depletion zone of cotton from the lower soil compartment was narrowest (<2 mm) among the species. Phosphorus fractionation of the rhizosphere soil showed that P utilized by cotton mainly come from NaHCO₃–P_i and NaOH–P_o pools while wheat and white lupin markedly depleted NaHCO₃–P_i and HCl–P pools, and the depletion zone extended to 3 mm. Wheat also depleted NaOH–P_o to a significant level irrespective of P supply. The study suggests that acquisition of soil P is enhanced through P mobilization by root exudates for white lupin, and possibly proton release and extensive roots for wheat under P deficiency. In contrast, the P acquisition of cotton was associated with increased activity of phosphatases in rhizosphere soil.     

间作减轻蚕豆枯萎病的微生物和生理机制

通过田间小区试验,研究了小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病发病率、病情指数、根际镰刀菌数量、蚕豆根系抗氧化酶活性和膜质过氧化的影响.采用Biolog ECO板分析了根际土壤微生物的代谢功能多样性,通过高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定了蚕豆根际土壤中酚酸含量.结果表明: 与单作蚕豆相比,小麦与蚕豆间作有降低蚕豆枯萎病发病率的趋势;发病盛期和发病末期,间作使蚕豆枯萎病的病情指数比单作显著降低15.8%和22.8%,明显提高了蚕豆根际微生物活性(AWCD值),根际微生物的Shannon多样性指数显著提高4.4%和5.3%,丰富度指数显著提高19.4%和37.1%.主成分分析表明,发病盛期和发病末期,间作明显改变了蚕豆根际微生物的群落结构,蚕豆根际镰刀菌数量分别降低53.8%和33.1%;并显著降低了蚕豆根际土壤中对羟基苯甲酸、香草酸、丁香酸、阿魏酸、苯甲酸和肉桂酸的含量.发病盛期和发病末期,间作蚕豆根系的过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性分别显著提高了20.0%、31.3%和38.5%、66.7%,丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低36.3%和46.3%;发病初期间作对蚕豆根系的POD、CAT酶活性和MDA含量无显著影响.小麦与蚕豆间作显著提高了蚕豆根际微生物的活性、多样性和根系抗氧化酶活性,降低了蚕豆根际土壤中酚酸含量和膜质过氧化程度,减少了土壤镰刀菌的数量,从而提高了蚕豆对枯萎病的抗性,降低了枯萎病的危害程度.     

Wheat, canola and grain legume access to soil phosphorus fractions differs in soils with contrasting phosphorus dynamics

Despite the high phosphorus (P) mobilizing capacity of many legumes, recent studies have found that, at least in calcareous soils, wheat is also able to access insoluble P fractions through yet unknown mechanism(s). We hypothesized that insoluble P fractions may be more available to non-legume plants in alkaline soils due to increased dissolution of the dominant calcium(Ca)-P pool into depleted labile P pools, whereas non-legumes may have limited access to insoluble P fractions in iron(Fe)- and aluminium(Al)-P dominated acid soils. Four crop species (faba bean, chickpea, wheat and canola) were grown on two acid and one alkaline soil under glasshouse conditions to examine rhizosphere processes and soil P fractions accessed. While all species generally depleted the H₂O-soluble inorganic P (water Pi) pool in all soils, there was no net depletion of the labile NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic P fraction (NaHCO₃ Pi) by any species in any soil. The NaOH-extractable P fraction (NaOH Pi) in the alkaline soil was the only non-labile Pi fraction depleted by all crops (particularly canola), possibly due to increases in rhizosphere pH. Chickpea mobilized the insoluble HCl Pi and residual P fractions; however, rhizosphere pH and carboxylate exudation could not fully explain all of the observed Pi depletion in each soil. All organic P fractions appeared highly recalcitrant, with the exception of some depletion of the NaHCO₃ Po fraction by faba bean in the acid soils. Chickpea and faba bean did not show a higher capacity than wheat or canola to mobilize insoluble P pools across all soil types, and the availability of various P fractions to legume and non-legume crops differed in soils with contrasting P dynamics.     

Variation of Bacterial Community Diversity in Rhizosphere Soil of Sole-Cropped versus Intercropped Wheat Field after Harvest

As the major crops in north China, spring crops are usually planted from April through May every spring and harvested in fall. Wheat is also a very common crop traditionally planted in fall or spring and harvested in summer year by year. This continuous cropping system exhibited the disadvantages of reducing the fertility of soil through decreasing microbial diversity. Thus, management of microbial diversity in the rhizosphere plays a vital role in sustainable crop production. In this study, ten common spring crops in north China were chosen sole-cropped and four were chosen intercropped with peanut in wheat fields after harvest. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing of one 16S rDNA fragment were used to analyze the bacterial diversity and species identification. DGGE profiles showed the bacterial community diversity in rhizosphere soil samples varied among various crops under different cropping systems, more diverse under intercropping system than under sole-cropping. Some intercropping-specific bands in DGGE profiles suggested that several bacterial species were stimulated by intercropping systems specifically. Furthermore, the identification of these dominant and functional bacteria by DNA sequencing indicated that intercropping systems are more beneficial to improve soil fertility. Compared to intercropping systems, we also observed changes in microbial community of rhizosphere soil under sole-crops. The rhizosphere bacterial community structure in spring crops showed a strong crop species-specific pattern. More importantly, Empedobacter brevis, a typical plant pathogen, was only found in the carrot rhizosphere, suggesting carrot should be sown prudently. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that crop species and cropping systems had significant effects on bacterial community diversity in the rhizosphere soils. We strongly suggest sorghum, glutinous millet and buckwheat could be taken into account as intercropping crops with peanut; while hulled oat, mung bean or foxtail millet could be considered for sowing in wheat fields after harvest in North China.     

小麦/蚕豆，玉米/蚕豆和小麦/玉米间作对根际细菌群落结构的影响

利用PCR-DGGE技术研究了小麦/蚕豆、玉米/蚕豆和小麦/玉米间作对作物根际细菌群落结构的影响.结果表明：间作能够提高作物根际细菌群落多样性、改变根际细菌群落结构组成.其中,小麦/蚕豆间作对根际细菌群落结构的影响最为突出,作物花期时小麦/蚕豆间作显著提高和改变两种作物根际细菌多样性和群落结构组成.玉米/蚕豆间作主要表现出对苗期玉米根际细菌多样性的显著提高和群落结构组成的改变.小麦/玉米间作对作物根际细菌群落结构的影响程度较弱.同时,3种间作体系都具有不同程度的产量优势.结果证明了间作体系中地上部植物多样性与地下部微生物多样性存在紧密联系.     

Effect of peanut mixed cropping with gramineous species on micronutrient concentrations and iron chlorosis of peanut plants grown in a calcareous soil

To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of improvement of iron nutrition of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) in calcareous soil, both greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the rhizosphere (phytosiderophores) effects from maize, barley, oats and wheat with different phytosiderophores release rates on iron nutrition and other micronutrients in calcareous soil. Six cropping treatments were examined in a greenhouse experiment: peanut grown separately in monoculture, normal peanut/maize intercropping (two genotypes: Danyu13, Zhongdan12), peanut/barley intercropping, peanut/oats intercropping, and peanut/wheat intercropping. Additionally, we investigated in a field experiment the same five cropping systems as the greenhouse experiment (maize/peanut intercropping not including Zhongdan12). Our results show that the chlorophyll and active Fe concentrations in the young leaves of the peanut in the intercropping system with different gramineous species were much higher than those of the peanut in monoculture. In greenhouse conditions, the Fe concentration in the shoots of peanut plants grown in the intercropping systems of two maize genotypes separately were 1.40–1.44, 1.47–1.64 and 1.15–1.42 times higher respectively than those of peanut plants grown in monocropping at 55, 60 and 70 days. In particular, the Fe concentration in shoots of peanut plants grown in the intercropping systems of barley, oats and wheat were not only higher than those in monocropping but also higher than those in peanut intercropped cropping with maize. In the field, the concentration of Fe in shoot of intercropped peanut plants in rows 1–3 from gramineous species were significantly higher than in monocropping at the flowering stage. Simultaneously with iron nutrition variation in peanut, Zn and Cu concentrations of intercropped grown peanut increased significantly compared to those in monocropping in the greenhouse experiment, and different intercropping treatments generally increased the Zn and Cu content in the shoot of peanut in the field. Systemic mechanisms may be involved in adaptation to nutrient stresses at the whole plant level. The study suggests that a reasonable intercropping system of nutrient efficient species should be considered to prevent or mitigate iron and zinc deficiency of plants in agricultural practice.     

Using competitive and facilitative interactions in intercropping systems enhances crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency

This paper reviews recent research on the processes involved in the yield advantage in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.), wheat/soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], faba bean (Vicia faba L.)/maize, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)/maize and water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.)/maize intercropping. In wheat/maize and wheat/soybean intercropping systems, a significant yield increase of intercropped wheat over sole wheat was observed, which resulted from positive effects of the border row and inner rows of intercropped wheat. The border row effect was due to interspecific competition for nutrients as wheat had a higher competitive ability than either maize or soybean had. There was also compensatory growth, or a recovery process, of subordinate species such as maize and soybean, offsetting the impairment of early growth of the subordinate species. Finally, both dominant and subordinate species in intercropping obtain higher yields than that in corresponding sole wheat, maize or soybean. We summarized these processes as the `competition-recovery production principle'. We observed interspecific facilitation, where maize improves iron nutrition in intercropped peanut, faba bean enhances nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by intercropped maize, and chickpea facilitates P uptake by associated wheat from phytate-P. Furthermore, intercropping reduced the nitrate content in the soil profile as intercropping uses soil nutrients more efficiently than sole cropping.     

Effects of rhizobial inoculation, cropping systems and growth stages on endophytic bacterial community of soybean roots

Interspecific interactions and soil nitrogen supply levels affect intercropping productivity. We hypothesized that interspecific competition can be alleviated by increasing N application rate and yield advantage can be obtained in competitive systems. A field experiment was conducted in Wuwei, Gansu province in 2007 and 2008 to study intercropping of faba bean/maize, wheat/maize, barley/maize and the corresponding monocultures of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) with N application rates of 0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg N ha^?1. Total land equivalent ratios (TLER) were 1.22 for faba bean/maize, 1.16 for wheat/maize, and 1.13 for barley/maize intercropping over the 2-year study period. Maize was overyielding when intercropped with faba bean, but underyielding when intercropped with wheat or barley according to partial land equivalent ratios (PLER) based on grain yields of individual crops in intercropping and sole cropping. There was an interspecific facilitation between intercropped faba bean and maize, and interspecific competition between maize and either wheat or barley. The underyielding of maize was higher when intercropped with barley than with wheat. Fertilizer N alleviated competitive interactions in intercrops with adequate fertilizer N at 225 kg ha^?1. Yield advantage of intercropping can be acquired with adequate nitrogen supply, even in an intensive competitive system such as barley/maize intercropping. This is important when using intercropping to develop intensive farming systems with high inputs and high outputs.