Xiaolin Li

Wheat/maize or wheat/soybean strip intercropping - I. Yield advantage and interspecific interactions on nutrients

Abstract This study investigated yield advantage of intercropping systems and compared N, P and K uptake by wheat, maize, and soybean in two field experiments in Gansu province. At Baiyun site the field experiment compared two P levels (0 and 53xa0kgxa0Pxa0ha−1), two planting densities for wheat and maize, and three cropping treatments (wheat/maize intercropping, sole wheat and sole maize). The design for the wheat/soybean intercropping experiment at Jingtan site was similar, except that fertilization rates were 0 and 33xa0kgxa0Pxa0ha−1 without plant density treatment. Yield and nutrient acquisitions by intercropped wheat, maize and soybean were all significantly greater than for sole wheat, maize and soybean with the exception of K acquisition by maize. Intercropping advantages in yield (40–70% for wheat intercropped with maize and 28–30% for wheat intercropped with soybean) and in nutrient acquisition by wheat resulted from both the border- and inner-row effects. The relative contribution to increasing biomass was two-thirds from the border-row effect and one-third from the inner-row effect. Similar trends were noted for N, P and K accumulation. During the co-growth period, lasting for about 80 days from maize or soybean emergence to wheat harvesting, yield and nutrient acquisition by intercropped wheat increased significantly while those by maize or soybean intercropped with wheat decreased significantly. Aggressivities of wheat relative to either maize (0.26–1.63 of Awm) or soybean (0.35–0.95 of Aws) revealed the greater competitive ability of wheat than either maize or soybean. The nutrient competitive ratio, 1.09–7.54 for wheat relative to maize and 1.2–8.3 for wheat relative to soybean, showed that wheat had greater capability to acquire nutrients compared to soybean and maize. Comparison of overall N and K acquisition by intercropping with weighted means of those of sole cropping revealed interspecific facilitation in nutrient acquisition during co-growth.

Interspecific complementary and competitive interactions between intercropped maize and faba bean

Interspecific complementary and competitive interactions between maize (Zea mays L. cv. Zhongdan No. 2) and faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Linxia Dacaidou) in maize/faba bean intercropping systems were assessed in two field experiments in Gansu province, northwestern China, plus a microplot experiment in one treatment of one of the field experiments in which root system partitions were used to determine interspecific root interactions. Intercropping effects were detected, with land equivalent ratio values of 1.21–1.23 based on total (grain+straw) yield and 1.13–1.34 based on grain yield. When two rows of maize were intercropped with two rows of faba bean, both total yield and grain yield of both crop species were significantly higher than those of sole maize and faba bean on an equivalent area basis. When two rows of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Beijing No. 5) were intercropped with two rows of faba bean, neither total yield nor grain yield of faba bean was higher than of sole faba bean on an equivalent area basis. Interspecific competition between maize and faba bean was relatively weak, with mean relative crowding coefficients of 0.99–1.02 for maize and 1.55–1.59 for faba bean. The microplot experiment in which partitions were placed between root systems showed a significant positive yield effect on maize when the root systems intermingled freely (no partition) or partly (400 mesh nylon net partition) compared with no interspecific root interaction (plastic sheet partition).

Arbuscular mycorrhiza can depress translocation of zinc to shoots of host plants in soils moderately polluted with zinc

There is increasing and widespread interest in the maintenance of soil quality and remediation strategies for management of soils contaminated with organic pollutants and trace metals or metalloids. There is also a growing body of evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can exert protective effects on host plants under conditions of soil metal contamination. Research has focused on the mechanisms involved and has raised the prospect of utilizing the mutualistic association in soil re-vegetation programmes. In this short paper we briefly review this research, summarize some recent work and highlight some new data which indicate that the alleviation of metal phytotoxicity, particularly Zn toxicity, by arbuscular mycorrhiza may occur by both direct and indirect mechanisms. Binding of metals in mycorrhizal structures and immobilization of metals in the mycorrhizosphere may contribute to the direct effects. Indirect effects may include the mycorrhizal contribution to balanced plant mineral nutrition, especially P nutrition, leading to increased plant growth and enhanced metal tolerance. Further research on the potential application of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the bioremediation or management of metal-contaminated soils is also discussed.

Changes in soil solution Zn and pH and uptake of Zn by arbuscular mycorrhizal red clover in Zn-contaminated soil

Red clover plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae were grown in a sterile pasture soil containing 50 mg Zn kg(-1) in Plexiglas (acrylic) containers with nylon net partitions (30 microm mesh) designed to separate the soil into a central root zone and two outer zones for hyphal growth with no root penetration. Two porous plastic soil moisture samplers were installed in each pot, one in the root compartment and the other in one of the hyphal compartments. The soil in the outer compartments was amended with one of the four application rates of Zn (as ZnSO4) ranging from 0 to 1000 mg kg(-1). Non-mycorrhizal controls were included, and there were five replicates of each treatment in a randomised block in a glasshouse. Uninoculated plants received supplementary P to avoid yield limitation due to low soil P status. Plants grew in the central compartment for nine weeks. Soil moisture samples were collected 4, 24 and 62 days after sowing to monitor changes in the Zn concentration and pH of the soil solution. At harvest, the mean mycorrhizal infection rate of inoculated plants ranged from 29% to 34% of total root length and was little affected by Zn application. Root and shoot yields were not affected by mycorrhizal infection. Plant Zn concentration and uptake were lower in mycorrhizal plants than non-mycorrhizal controls, and this effect was more pronounced with increasing Zn application rate to the soil. Soil solution Zn concentrations were lower and pH values were higher in mycorrhizal treatments than non-mycorrhizal controls and the mycorrhiza effect was more pronounced at higher Zn application rates. The protective effect of mycorrhiza against plant Zn uptake may have been associated with changes in Zn solubility mediated by changes in the soil solution pH, or by immobilisation of Zn in the extraradical mycelium.

Evaluation of current fertilizer practice and soil fertility in vegetable production in the Beijing region

A survey on current fertilizer practices and their effects on soil fertility and soil salinity was conducted from 1996 to 2000 in Beijing Province, a major vegetable production area in the North China Plain. Inputs of the major nutrients (NPK) and fertilizer application methods and sources for different vegetable species and field conditions were evaluated. Excessive N and P fertilizer application, often up to about 5 times the crop requirement in the case of N, was very common, especially for high-value crops. Potassium supply may have been inadequate for some crops such as leafy vegetables. Urea, diammonium orthophosphate ((NH4)2HPO4) and chicken manure were the major nutrient sources for vegetable production in the region. Over 50% of N, 60% of P and nearly 90% of K applied originated from organic manure. Total N application rate for open-field Chinese cabbage from organic manure and inorganic fertilizers ranged from 300 to 900 kg N ha–1 on 78% of the farms surveyed. More than 35% of the surveyed greenhouse-grown tomato crops received > 1000 kg N ha–1 from organic and inorganic sources. A negative K balance (applied K minus K removed by the crop) was found in two-thirds of the surveyed fields of open-field Chinese cabbage and half of the surveyed fields of greenhouse-grown tomato. Plant-available N, P and K increased with increasing length of the period the greenhouse soils had been used for vegetable production. Similarly, soil salinity increased more in greenhouse soils than in open-field soils. The results indicate that balanced NPK fertilizer use and maintenance of soil quality are important for the development of sustainable vegetable production systems in this region.

Interspecific facilitation of nutrient uptake by intercropped maize and faba bean

Interspecific complementary interactions in N, P and K uptake betweenintercropped maize (Zea mays L. cv. Zhongdan No. 2) andfababean (Vicia faba L. cv. Linxia Dacaidou) were investigatedin a field experiment. A root barrier study was also set up in whichbelowgroundpartitions were used to determine the contribution of interspecific rootinteractions to crop nutrient uptake. Nitrogen uptake by intercropped faba beanwas higher than (no P fertilizer) or similar to (33 kg Pha−1 of P fertilizer) that by sole faba bean during theearly growth stages (first to third sampling) of faba bean, and was similar to(no P fertilizer) or higher than (33 kg P ha−1 ofP fertilizer) that by sole faba bean at maturity. Nitrogen uptake byintercropped maize did not differ from that by sole maize at maturity, exceptwhen P fertilizer was applied. Intermingling of maize and faba bean rootsincreased N uptake by both crop species by about 20% compared with complete orpartial separation of the root systems. Intercropping also led to someimprovement in P nutrition of both crop species. Maize shoot P concentrationswere similar to those of sole maize during early growth stages and becameprogressively higher until they were significantly higher than those of solemaize at maturity. Intercropping increased shoot P concentration in faba beanatthe flowering stage and in maize at maturity, and increased P uptake by bothplant species at maturity. Phosphorus uptake by faba bean with rootintermingling (no root partition) was 28 and 11% higher than with complete(plastic sheet) and partial (400 mesh nylon net) root barriers, respectively.Maize showed similar trends, with corresponding P uptake values of 29 and 17%.Unlike N and P, K nutrition was not affected by the presence of root barriers.

Studies on the improvement in iron nutrition of peanut by intercropping with maize on a calcareous soil

Both rhizobox and field experiments were conducted to investigate nutritional interactions between peanut and maize in intercropping systems for Fe acquistion. Field observations indicated that Fe deficiency chlorosis symptoms in peanut grown in monoculture were more severe and widespread compared to those of peanuts intercropped with maize. This indicated a marked improvement in the iron nutrition of peanut intercropped with maize in the field and was further studied. In experiments with rhizoboxes, roots of maize and peanut were either allowed to interact with each other or prevented from making contact by inserting a solid plate between the root systems of the two species. A field experiment for four cropping treatments were examined: peanut grown separately in monoculture, normal peanut/maize intercropping, peanut/maize intercropping with solid plates between the root systems of the two crop species and peanut/maize intercropping with 30 μm nylon nets between the root systems. The results show that the chlorophyll and HCl-extractable Fe concentrations in young leaves of peanut in the intercropping system with unrestricted interactions of the roots of both plant species were much higher than those of peanut in monoculture. In the nylon mesh treatment, the beneficial effects of the maize extended to row 3. The improvement of Fe nutrition in the intercropping system got reduced but not diminished completely in the treatment with nylon net. It is suggested that the improvement in the Fe nutrition of peanut intercropped with maize was mainly caused by rhizosphere interactions between peanut and maize.

Wheat/maize or wheat/soybean strip intercropping: II. Recovery or compensation of maize and soybean after wheat harvesting

Abstract While early-maturing crops benefit from intercropping, late-maturing crops usually suffer growth penalties during the intercropping phase. It is possible, however, that recovery or compensation of the late-maturing crops occurs after the harvest of the early-maturing crops. Three field experiments were conducted at Baiyun in 1997 and at Jingtan in 1997 and 1998 to test the hypothesis in wheat/maize and wheat/soybean intercropping. The biomass and nutrient accumulation in intercropped soybean were significantly smaller than in sole soybean before wheat harvest but thereafter increased sharply at Jingtan site in 1997. The rates of dry matter accumulation in the intercropped maize (10.0–20.1xa0g/m 2 per day) were significantly lower than those in the sole maize (17.1–34.8xa0g/m 2 per day) during the early stage from 7 May to 3 August, while mostly intercropped with wheat. After 3 August, however, the rates of intercropped maize, increasing to 58.9–69.9xa0g/m 2 per day, was significantly greater than in sole maize (22.7–51.8xa0g/m 2 per day) at Baiyun site in 1997 and nutrient acquisition showed the same trends as growth. At Jingtan site in 1998, the disadvantage of the border row of intercropped maize resulted from interspecific competition diminished after wheat harvest and disappeared at maize maturity. It was concluded that there was indeed recovery of growth after wheat harvesting in wheat/maize and wheat/soybean intercropping. However, the recovery was limited under N 0 P 0 treatment. The interspecific competition, facilitation and recovery are together contributed to yield advantage of intercropping.

A modified glass bead compartment cultivation system for studies on nutrient and trace metal uptake by arbuscular mycorrhiza

A modified glass bead compartment cultivation system is described in which glass beads continue to be used in the hyphal compartment but are replaced by coarse river sand in the compartments for host plant roots and mycorrhizal hyphae. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations were established using two host plant species, maize (Zea mays L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and two AM fungi, Glomus mosseae and G. versiforme. When the standard and modified cultivation systems were compared, the new method yielded much more fungal tissue in the hyphal compartment. Using G. versiforme as the fungal symbiont, up to 30 mg of fungal dry matter (DM) was recovered from the hyphal compartment of mycorrhizal maize and about 6 mg from red clover. Multi-element analysis was conducted on samples of host plant roots and shoots and on harvested fungal biomass. Concentrations of P, Cu and Zn were much higher in the fungal biomass than in the roots or shoots of the host plants but fungal concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn were similar to or lower than those in the plants. There were also significant differences in nutrient concentrations between the two AM fungi and these may be related to differences in their proportions of extraradical mycelium to spores. The high affinity of the fungal mycelium for Zn was very striking and is discussed in relation to the potential use of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the phytoremediation of Zn-polluted soils.

Effects of EDTA application and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on growth and zinc uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) in soil experimentally contaminated with zinc

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the uptake of Zn from experimentally contaminated calcareous soil of low nutrient status by maize inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus caledonium. EDTA was applied to the soil to mobilize Zn and thus maximize plant Zn uptake. The highest plant dry matter (DM) yields were obtained with a moderate Zn addition level of 300xa0mg kg−1. Plant growth was enhanced by mycorrhizal colonization when no Zn was added and under the highest Zn addition level of 600xa0mg kg−1, while application of EDTA to the soil generally inhibited plant growth. EDTA application also increased plant Zn concentration, and Zn accumulation in the roots increased with increasing EDTA addition level. The effects of inoculation with G.xa0caledonium on plant Zn uptake varied with Zn addition level. When no Zn was added, Zn translocation from roots to shoots was enhanced by mycorrhizal colonization. In contrast, when Zn was added to the soil, mycorrhizal colonization resulted in lower shoot Zn concentrations in mycorrhizal plants. The P nutrition of the maize was greatly affected by AM inoculation, with mycorrhizal plants showing higher P concentrations and P uptake. The results indicate that application of EDTA mobilized soil Zn, leading to increased Zn accumulation by the roots and subsequent plant toxicity and growth inhibition. Mycorrhizal colonization alleviated both Zn deficiency and Zn contamination, and also increased host plant growth by influencing mineral nutrition. However, neither EDTA application nor arbuscular mycorrhiza stimulated Zn translocation from roots to shoots or metal phytoextraction under the experimental conditions. The results are discussed in relation to the environmental risk associated with chelate-enhanced phytoextraction and the potential role of arbuscular mycorrhiza in soil remediation.