Forms of fertilizer nitrogen residues in soil after intercropping of maize-cowpea

Summary Under greenhouse and field conditions, after the harvest of maize-cowpea intercropping, soils were analysed for total, ammonium and organic N fractions and fertilizer ¹⁵N residues. Growing cowpea as the sole crop or in intercropping with maize results in increased relative amounts of the acid hydrolysable organic N fractions in soil. After sole cropping of maize 70% of the residual fertilizer N was found in the acid hydrolysable fraction while after intercropping it was 80%–92%. The fertilizer and soil N labelling with ¹⁵N in identical but alternate series provided information on the nitrogen fixed by cowpea and left in the soil as crop residues. Under field conditions the cowpea plant residues left after cropping contained 170 kg N ha^–1 in sole cropping and 105 kg N ha^–1 in intercropping with maize. The N assimilated by cowpea-Rhizobium symbiosis was mainly present in the acid hydrolysable forms, particularly in the -amino N fraction and ammonium N fraction.     

Residual value of 15N-labelled fertilizer applied to a maize-cowpea intercropping system

Summary We studied the residual effect of ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer N, applied to a maize-cowpea intercropping system, on the succeeding crops of maize/wheat and its balance in the crop sequence, in greenhouse and field experiments. The N uptake by succeeding crops was always higher following sole or intercropped cowpea. Under field conditions with fertilizer N applied to first-crop maize, the residual N uptake by the succeeding crop of wheat was 5.8% and after maize-cowpea intercropping it was 7.8%.     

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers and Intercropping on Uptake of Nitrogen and Phosphorus by Wheat,Maize, and Faba Bean

Abstract

One‐third of all the cultivated land area is used for multiple cropping and half of the total grain yield is produced with multiple cropping in China. There have been numerous studies on nutrient acquisition by crops in legume/non‐legume intercropping systems, but few on nutrient uptake in cereal/cereal intercropping. This paper describes a field experiment in which integrated wheat/maize and maize/faba bean systems were compared with sole wheat and sole faba bean cropping to assess the effects of intercropping on nutrient uptake by wheat, maize, and faba bean under various application rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) fertilizers. Results show that both N and P fertilizers and intercropping enhanced N uptake by wheat, while only P fertilizer and intercropping increased P acquisition by wheat. The advantage of N uptake by border rows of wheat intercropped with maize declined with increasing N fertilizer application rate, but that of P acquisition was not affected by P fertilizer. The amounts of both N and P taken up by maize intercropped with faba bean were much higher than those by maize intercropped with wheat throughout the period of intercropping. Both fertilization and intercropping did not influence the N and P uptake by faba bean.     

Effect of phosphorus fertilizer application on the performance of maize/soybean intercrop in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria in 2007 and 2008 to determine the effects of phosphorus fertilizer application on performance of intercropped maize and soybean. The experiments, arranged as a split plot in a randomized complete block design, replicated four times. A cropping system with sole maize, sole soybean and maize/soybean intercrop formed the main plot treatments while P rates with 0, 15 and 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 were the subplot treatments. For both years, neither P fertilizer application nor cropping systems had a significant effect on maize grain yield. However, soybean grain yield was significantly higher (92.3% in 2007 and 44.5% in 2008) under sole cropping than under maize/soybean intercropping. On average, N fixed by soybean increased with the increase in P rate (from 51.8% without P to 60.5% with 30 P), but there was no significant difference in N fixed by sole soybean and soybean/maize intercrop. However, the interaction effect on N fixed between cropping systems and P rates was significant (P ≤ 0.05). N, P and K contents in maize grain were significantly higher (>100%) in intercropped maize than in sole maize. The cropping systems had no significant effect on post-harvest soil chemical characteristics. The land equivalent ratio was 1.52 in 2007 and 1.78 in 2008. The result shows that in utilizing legumes for N enrichment, the alleviation of P deficiency can enhance N₂-fixation by legumes. Furthermore, P replenishment in a maize/soybean intercrop may improve maize grain quality even though yield is not increased.     

Field evaluation of nitrogen fixation and use of nitrogen fertilizer by sorghum/pigeonpea intercropping on an Alfisol in the Indian semi-arid tropics

A field experiment was conducted to obtain the N balance sheet for sole crops and intercrops of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and pigeonpeas [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Intercropping gave a significant advantage over sole cropping in terms of dry matter production and grain yield, as calculated on the basis of the land equivalent ratio and area-time equivalent ratio. The N fertilizer use efficiency and atmospheric N₂ fixation by pigeonpea were estimated using ¹⁵N-labeling and natural abundance methods. The N fertilizer use efficiency of sorghum was unaltered by the cropping system, while that of the pigeonpea was greatly reduced by intercropping. Although intercropping increased the fractional contribution of fixed N to the pigeonpeas, no significant difference was observed between the cropping systems in total symbiotically fixed N. There was no evidence of a significant transfer of N from the pigeonpea to the sorghum. This study showed that use of soil N and fertilizer N by pigeonpeas was almost the same as that by sorghum in sole cropping, indicating the potential competence of pigeonpeas to exploit soil N. However, when N was exhausted by a companion crop in intercropping, the pigeonpea crop increased its dependency on atmospheric N₂ fixation. We conclude that knowledge of how N from different sources is shared by companion crops is a prerequisite to establishing strategies to increase N use, and consequently land productivity, in intercropping systems.     

Performance of cowpea cultivars when grown as an intercrop with maize of contrasting maturities

A field trial was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 at Samaru in northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria to determine the performance of semi-determinate and indeterminate cowpea cultivars intercropped with extra early, early and late maize cultivars. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having treatments arranged as a split-plot factorial. Transmitted radiation was reduced by 49–63% due to shading by the maize plants. Similarly, intercropping cowpea with maize reduced intercepted radiation, fodder yield and grain yield of cowpea by 59–70%, 39–51% and 45–62%, respectively. Intercepted radiation and yields of intercropped cowpea were lower for late maize which maintained high leaf area over a longer period of time. This is supported by the higher plant height, higher leaf area index (LAI) and reduced transmitted radiation recorded in late maize compared with extra early and early maize. Extra early and early maize were less competitive with cowpea because of shorter period of association in addition to permitting higher radiation. Crop value of maize plus cowpea was higher than that of sole cowpea ($2616.8 vs. $1218.7 ha^?1) because higher combined yield was achieved by a more efficient use of resources in the intercrop. Therefore, cowpea cultivar may be intercropped with extra early maize.     

Phosphorus uptake and rhizosphere properties of intercropped and monocropped maize, faba bean, and white lupin in acidic soil

Little information is available on phosphorus (P) uptake and rhizosphere processes in maize (Zea mays L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) when intercropped or grown alone in acidic soil. We studied P uptake and soil pH, carboxylate concentration, and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of maize, faba bean, and white lupin in an acidic soil with 0–250 mg P (kg⁻¹ soil) as KH₂PO₄ (KP) or FePO₄ (FeP) with species grown alone or intercropped. All plant species increased the pH compared to unplanted control, particularly faba bean. High KP supply (>100 mg P kg⁻¹) significantly increased carboxylate concentration in the rhizosphere of maize. The carboxylate composition of the rhizosphere soil of maize and white lupin was significantly affected by P form (KP or FeP), whereas, this was not the case for faba bean. In maize, the carboxylate composition of the rhizosphere soil differed significantly between intercropping and monocropping. Yield and P uptake were similar in monocropping and intercropping. Monocropped faba bean had a greater concentration of phospholipid fatty acids in the rhizosphere than that in intercropping. Intercropping changed the microbial community structure in faba bean but not in the other corps. The results show that P supply and P form, as well as intercropping can affect carboxylate concentration and microbial community composition in the rhizosphere, but that the effect is plant species-specific. In contrast to previous studies in alkaline soils, intercropping of maize with legumes did not result in increased maize growth suggesting that the legumes did not increase P availability to maize in this acidic soil.     

Ontogenic variation in nitrogen fixation and accumulation of nitrogen in mungbean,blackgram, cowpea,and groundnut

Ontogenic variations in N₂ fixation and accumulation of N by the mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek), blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were studied by a ¹⁵N-dilution technique. Pots filled with 7 kg of red yellow podzolic soil were used. Samples were taken 20, 40, 60, and 80 days after emergence which approximately corresponded to preflowering, flowering, early/mid-pod filling and late pod filling stages, respectively. During early growth (up to 40 days after emergence), the carryover of seed N accounted for a considerable fraction of the total plant N in the legumes, the highest being in the groundnut. With a correction for carryover, the groundnut derived over 45% of its N content from the atmosphere 20 days after emergence whereas the corresponding figures were 33% for the blackgram and about 28% for the cowpea and mungbean. Between flowering and early pod fill, there was a rapid increase in N₂ fixation in all legumes except in groundnut which showed highest fixation from 60 to 80 days after emergence. In the mungbean, N₂ fixation and uptake of soil N were insignificant 60 days after emergence while in other legumes these processes continued beyond this time. All legumes derived about 90% of their N from atmosphere by 80 days after emergence. However, due to considerable interspecific differences in total N yield the final amount of N₂ fixed showed an appreciable variation among legumes. It was highest in the groundnut (443 mg N plant^-1) followed by the cowpea (385), blackgram (273), and mungbean (145), respectively. The groundnut maintained nodules until the late pod filling stage while in other legumes, nodules senesced progressively following the mid-pod filling stage. During pod filling there was a net mobilization of N from vegetative tissues to developing pods in the mungbean, which amounted to about 20% of N in seeds. This mobilization was not evident in other legumes.     

玉米与不同豆科作物间作对氮素的竞争与恢复效应

  【目的】  竞争和恢复是间作群体优势的重要机理。本研究分析比较玉米与不同豆科作物间作共生期对氮的竞争,单独生长期氮吸收的恢复效应,以及氮竞争和恢复效应对间作模式氮吸收间作优势的影响。  【方法】  田间试验于2018—2019年在甘肃省农业科学院张掖试验站进行。共设置玉米/豌豆间作 (maize/pea,M/P)、玉米/蚕豆间作 (maize/faba bean,M/F)、玉米/大豆间作 (maize/soybean,M/S) 3个间作体系和单作豌豆 (sole pea,SP)、单作蚕豆 (sole faba bean, SF)、单作大豆 (sole soybean,SS)、单作玉米 (sole maize,SM) 4个单作体系。测定豆科作物和玉米收获期作物的干物质量和氮浓度,计算间作体系作物的偏氮吸收当量比 (partial nitrogen uptake equivalent ratio,pNER) 和间作体系的氮吸收当量比 (nitrogen uptake equivalent ratio,NER),玉米相对于豆科的氮竞争比率(competitive ratio of maize to legume,CR_ml),豆科作物收获后玉米的氮素吸收量和吸收速率。  【结果】  M/P、M/F和M/S的NER均大于1,两年平均分别为1.33、1.26和1.38。3个间作体系中,豆科作物的pNER_l无显著差异,M/S中玉米的pNER_m显著高于M/P和M/F。间作豆科作物的氮浓度与其单作相比无显著差异,但氮吸收量显著低于单作。M/P、M/F和M/S体系中玉米植株的氮浓度无显著差异,而玉米氮吸收量分别相当于单作玉米的62.2%、51.0%和79.9%,M/S体系玉米氮吸收量较M/P和M/F分别提高了33.4%和62.6%。M/S体系CR_ml大于1,M/P和M/F的CR_ml值均小于1。各间作体系玉米恢复效应2019年高于2018年,但值均小于1。CR_ml与NER和pNER_m呈显著正相关,与pNER_l呈显著负相关。  【结论】  两年的试验结果表明,河西走廊灌区玉米/豌豆、玉米/蚕豆和玉米/大豆间作体系的氮吸收当量比均大于1,相对单作具有氮吸收间作优势。玉米/豌豆、玉米/蚕豆和玉米/大豆体系共生期存在氮竞争,豌豆和蚕豆对氮的竞争强于玉米,大豆的氮竞争弱于玉米。豆科作物收获后,各体系玉米单独生长期无氮吸收恢复效应。     

施用乙烯利和磷肥对玉米//花生间作氮吸收分配及间作优势的影响

【目的】在玉米//花生间作体系中,喷施乙烯利明显降低玉米株高,提高花生和间作体系的产量,研究施用乙烯利和磷肥对玉米花生间作氮吸收分配和间作优势的影响,明确其调控机理,对实现玉米、花生间作高产高效具有重要指导意义。【方法】本试验于2012~2013年在河南科技大学农场进行,设玉米单作、花生单作、玉米//花生间作和玉米//花生间作+喷施乙烯利4种种植方式,分别施磷和不施磷,共8个处理,分析了不同处理玉米、花生不同器官氮含量及氮积累量,讨论了喷施乙烯利和施磷对间作体系氮吸收间作优势的影响。【结果】与单作相比,玉米花生间作显著提高了玉米茎、叶、籽粒的氮含量和氮积累量,促进了氮向籽粒的分配;提高了花生茎、叶、果仁的氮含量,但明显降低了花生氮积累量,不利于氮向果仁分配;与单作体系相比,间作体系的氮吸收间作优势为N 26.88~42.21 kg/hm2。喷施乙烯利减少了玉米对花生的氮竞争比率,降低了间作玉米茎、叶、籽粒的氮含量和氮积累量,促进氮向籽粒的分配,并且还提高了间作花生茎、叶、果仁的氮含量和氮积累量,促进氮向果仁的分配,间作花生的氮吸收量提高23.67%~49.54%（P < 0.05）,间作体系氮吸收间作优势提高4.95%~54.65%。与不施磷相比,施磷提高了喷施乙烯利间作体系中玉米和花生吸氮量,分别提高19.49%~27.71%和34.26%~43.24%（P < 0.05）,氮吸收间作优势提高69.97%~162.57%（P < 0.05）。【结论】施用磷肥可进一步提升喷施乙烯利在降低玉米对花生的氮竞争比率,促进玉米花生间作体系氮吸收及氮向籽粒中分配,提高氮吸收间作优势的作用,促进氮素的高效利用。     

Nodulation and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation of Cowpea Genotypes as Affected by Fertilizer Nitrogen

Abstract

Intercropping with legumes and non‐legumes is commonly practiced in many parts of the world to maximize productivity per unit area of land. In India, cowpea [Vigna unguiculate (L.) Walp] is a popular pulse legume component of intercropping farming systems. Often, however, potential production is compromised, particularly in high fertilizer input systems, because legume component competes with the non‐legume component of the system for nitrogen (N) in the soil. An experiment was conducted in order to identify lines of cowpea that could obtain the majority of their nitrogen requirements from symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen rather than from uptake of soil nitrogen. Twenty‐nine genotypes of cowpea were screened for tolerance to (applied) nitrogen in soil in field condition. The parameters used to appraise tolerance were extent of root nodulation, the amount of nitrogen fixed, nitrate reductase activity (NR) in roots and nodules, and nitrite content of roots and nodules. There were two nitrogen treatments applied as urea, 40 kg N per ha (N40), and 120 kg N per ha (N120). There were three genotypes whose nitrogen‐fixing effectiveness was apparently unimpaired by applications of nitrogen to the soil. Genotype EC‐170442‐3 nodulated and fixed atmospheric nitrogen satisfactorily at higher levels of applied nitrogen. At N40, genotypes EC‐244390 and EC‐240900 formed a great abundance of large nodules effective in nitrogen fixation; even at N120, EC‐240900 had better symbioses than the majority of the 29 cowpea lines originally screened. These three genotypes are deemed worthy of further examination for their suitability for intercropping systems. How this might be achieved is discussed.     

A study on the improvement iron nutrition of peanut intercropping with maize on nitrogen fixation at early stages of growth of peanut on a calcareous soil

Abstract

A glasshouse study employing a split-root technique was conducted to investigate the influence of intercropping with maize (Zea mays L.) in a calcareous soil on N₂ fixation by peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at early stages of growth. In this intercropping system, competitive interactions between maize and peanut for N and improvement of Fe uptake were likely to be important factors affecting N₂ fixation of peanut. The experiment was comprised of three treatments which included treatment I: peanut monocropping; treatment II: maize/peanut intercropping (the major and the minor compartments with low N, 50 mg kg^?1); treatment III: maize/peanut intercropping (the major compartment with low N, 50 mg kg^?1 and the minor compartment with high, N 200 mg kg^?1). The minor compartment of treatment III was fertilized with 200 mg kg^?1 N for reducing or eliminating the competition of N coming from intercropping maize. Intercropping with maize corrected Fe chlorosis of peanut by significantly increasing plant Fe concentration and uptake. Compared with the monocropping treatment, iron uptake increased from intercropping treatment II and III by 22 and 24% per plant, 30 and 29% shoots, 38 and 60% nodules. Iron uptake by the root nodules was especially enhanced in the intercropping system. In contrast, intercropping with maize had little effect on NO₃ ^?1-N concentrations in the soil rhizosphere of peanut or on N concentrations and uptake by peanut compared with plants in monoculture. The results indicate that the improvement in Fe nutrition was an important factor promoting N₂ fixation by peanut in the intercropping system at the flowering stage of peanut growth, and that competition for N by intercropped maize had little effect on N₂ fixation by peanut under the experimental conditions.     

Nitrogen fixation efficiency,interspecies N transfer,and root growth in barley-field pea intercrop on a Black Chernozemic soil

Summary Barley-field pea intercrops have been shown to increase N yield when grown under cryoboreal subhumid conditions. In this study, we extended previous research by testing the hypotheses that (1) the intercropped field pea fixes a greater proportion of its shoot and root N than does sole-cropped field pea; (2) N is transferred from the annual legume to the cereal during the growing season; and (3) root production is greater under intercropped than sole-cropped conditions. Unconfined microplots seeded to barley, field peas, or a barley-field pea intercrop were fertilized with N at 10 kg ha^-1 as (NH₄)₂SO₄ (5.21 atom % ¹⁵N excess). Both the intercropped and sole-cropped barley derived more than 93% of their N from the soil. In contrast, 40% of N in the intercropped field pea was derived from soil. This study provided no evidence for transfer of N from the legume to the cereal. On average, the proportion of N derived from air by both pea intercrops was 39% higher than that derived by the sole-cropped pea. Root length determined by a grid intersection method following digitization using an image analyzer tended to be higher under intercropping than in sole crops. We conclude that even on fertile soils benefits may accrue from annual intercropping that includes a legume. The benefits arise from (1) increased N production, (2) greater N-fixation efficiency, and/or (3) more shoot and root residue-N mineralization for subsequent crops.     

施氮量对玉米/大豆套作系统土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性的影响

为揭示玉米/大豆套作体系下土壤氮素转换的调控机理和根际微生态效应,以种植模式为主因素[设玉米单作(MM)、大豆单作(SS)和玉米/大豆套作(IMS)3种处理],以玉米、大豆施氮总量(玉米、大豆施氮比例为3∶1)为副因素[设不施氮(NN,0 kg?hm~(-2))、减量施氮(RN,180 kg?hm~(-2))和常量施氮(CN,240 kg?hm~(-2))3个处理],研究了玉米/大豆套作系统下不同施氮量对作物根际土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:与相应单作相比,套作下玉米根际土壤真菌、放线菌数量分别提高25.37%和8.79%;套作大豆根际土壤真菌、放线菌、固氮菌数量高于单作大豆;套作玉米根际土壤蛋白酶、脲酶活性和套作大豆根际土壤蛋白酶活性均显著升高。各施氮水平间,减量施氮下玉米、大豆根际土壤真菌数量较常量施氮和不施氮均有所提高;施氮提高了玉米、大豆根际土壤放线菌数量;大豆根际土壤固氮菌数量以减量施氮最高,比不施氮和常量施氮高17.78%和5.67%;玉米根际土壤蛋白酶活性、脲酶活性和大豆根际土壤脲酶活性均以减量施氮为最高。适宜的施氮量不仅能增加玉米/大豆套作土壤中真菌、放线菌、固氮菌的数量,还能提高土壤蛋白酶、脲酶活性,调节土壤氮素的转化,促进玉米/大豆对土壤中氮素的吸收,实现节能增效。     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Association in Plants Growing on Metal-Contaminated and Noncontaminated Soils Adjoining Kanpur Tanneries, Uttar Pradesh, India

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of 7 intercrops on Cd uptake by maize. The intercrops included cowpea (V. unguiculata (L.) Walp.), purple haricot (L. purpureus (L.) Sweet.), chickpea (C. arietinum L.), alfalfa (M. sativa L.), teosinte (E. mexicana Schrad.), amaranth (A. paniculatus L.) and rape (B. napus L.). The results showed that most legumes substantially increased Cd uptake by maize during vegetative growth. Leaf tissue of maize grown with legumes averaged 5.05 mg kg^?1 higher Cd than that grown with nonlegumes, or 2.42 mg kg^?1 higher than the control. However, the effect of intercrops on Cd uptake by maize became small during reproductive growth. Since chickpea resulted in a relatively large maize bioconcentration factor of 2.0 and large transfer factor of 0.55, it is regarded as the most valuable intercrop for enhancing Cd extraction from soil by maize. The results suggest that intercropping might be a feasible practice in facilitating phytoremediation.     

Assessment of cowpea and groundnut contributions to soil fertility and succeeding sorghum yields in the Guinean savannah zone of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Atmospheric biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea) was evaluated using a 2-year (2000–2001) experiment with different fertilizer treatments. The ¹⁵N isotopic dilution method with a nonfixing cowpea as test reference crop was used. The effects of the two legumes on soil N availability and succeeding sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) yields were measured. Groundnut was found to fix 8 to 23 kg N ha-1 and the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere varied from 27 to 34%. Cowpea fixed 50 to 115 kg N ha⁻¹ and the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere varied from 52 to 56%. Compared to mineral NPK fertilizer alone, legumes fixed more N from the atmosphere when dolomite or manure was associated with mineral fertilizers. Compared to soluble phosphate, phosphate rock increased BNF by cowpea. Significant correlation (p<0.05, R ²=0.94) was observed between total N yields of legumes and total N derived from the atmosphere. Compared to monocropping of sorghum, the soils of cowpea–sorghum and groundnut–sorghum rotations increased soil mineral N from 15 and 22 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively. Cowpea–sorghum and groundnut–sorghum rotations doubled N uptake and increased succeeding sorghum yields by 290 and 310%, respectively. Results suggested that, despite their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, N containing fertilizers (NPK) are recommended for the two legumes. The applications of NPK associated with dolomite or cattle manure or NK fertilizer associated with phosphate rock were the better recommendations that improved BNF, legumes, and succeeding sorghum yields.     

Nitrogen use in maize-grain legume cropping systems in semi-arid Kenya

Locally suitable cultivars of maize, beans, and cowpeas were grown in field experiments for four seasons in semi-arid Kenya. For three seasons, the dry matter production and grain yield of maize and beans were not increased by N fertilizer additions up to 120 kg N ha^-1. Fertilizer recoveries measured by ¹⁵N isotope dilution techniques were low, less than 20%. Inoculated and uninoculated beans failed to fix N₂. By contrast the cowpea derived 50% of its N from fixation, equivalent to 197 kg N ha^-1. The N content of the grain generally exceeded 40 kg N ha^-1, and the N content of the seeds from the grain legumes were greater than those from the cereals. Large inputs of N fertilizer or N by fixation are required if maize-grain legume cropping system in semiarid Kenya are to be sustained in the long term.     

铅胁迫下小花南芥与玉米间作对根系分泌物 有机酸的影响

为了揭示Pb胁迫对间作和单作的超累积植物和作物根系分泌低分子有机酸的影响,研究设置400 mg·L?1Pb胁迫,采用水培曝气法试验,以玉米和小花南芥单作为对照处理,研究Pb胁迫下玉米和小花南芥间作对植物根系形态、根系分泌有机酸及Pb吸收的影响。结果表明:与单作相比,间作小花南芥情况下,玉米根系分泌物检测到乳酸;玉米分根条数、根表面积和根密度与单作相比分别增加60%、15%和42%,地下部和地上部干重生物量分别增加108%和75%,玉米地下部Pb含量下降44%;与单作相比,间作玉米条件下,小花南芥根系分泌物检测到乙酸和乳酸,小花南芥根系分泌物量与单作相比增加103%~1 700%,小花南芥地下部和地上部Pb累积量分别比单作增加49%和75%,转运系数增加22%。相关分析结果表明,单作小花南芥只有地上部Pb累积量与草酸显著相关,而间作小花南芥地下部和地上部Pb累积量与草酸、柠檬酸和苹果酸显著相关。研究表明超富集植物小花南芥与玉米间作体系,根系分泌的有机酸改变了Pb在小花南芥和玉米体内的累积特征,促进超累积植物小花南芥累积Pb,减少农作物玉米植株体内Pb含量。Pb胁迫下超累积植物小花南芥与玉米间作是一种可行的修复模式。     

减量施氮与间作大豆对华南地区甜玉米农田氮平衡的影响

本文在广东广州华南农业大学试验中心,通过大田定位试验(2015—2016年两年4季)对比了两种施氮水平[减量施氮(300 kg·hm~(-2),N1)和常规施氮(360 kg·hm~(-2),N2)]、3种种植模式[甜玉米单作(SS)、甜玉米//大豆2∶3间作(S2B3)、甜玉米//大豆2∶4间作(S2B4)]农田生态系统的氮素输入、输出和平衡状况,旨在为减少化学氮肥投入水平,提高氮素利用效率,在华南地区发展环境友好型的玉米可持续生产模式提供科学依据。结果表明:1)减量施氮与甜玉米//大豆间作降低了系统氮素总输入量,大豆固氮和秸秆还田降低了化肥氮输入的比重,与常规施氮相比,减量施氮下SS、S2B3和S2B4的化肥氮输入占年均氮素总输入的比例分别下降3.24%、3.64%和3.77%。2)间作大豆增加了系统籽粒氮素累积量,N1和N2处理甜玉米//大豆间作的年均籽粒氮素累积量分别是单作甜玉米的2.43倍和2.18倍;减量施氮与甜玉米//大豆间作能降低甜玉米农田氮素损失,N1和N2处理甜玉米//大豆间作的年均氨挥发量分别比单作甜玉米低39.02%和27.26%;间作甜玉米的氮淋溶量比单作低13.85%。3)减量施氮与间作大豆显著降低了系统氮素盈余量,S2B3-N1、S2B3-N2和S2B4-N1、S2B4-N2年均氮素盈余量分别为71.03 kg·hm~(-2)、133.7 kg·hm~(-2)和42.87 kg·hm~(-2)、100.64 kg·hm~(-2),分别比SS处理N1和N2的平均值减少81.27%、64.75%和88.69%、73.47%。因此,减量施氮甜玉米//大豆间作模式能维持系统作物产量、减少生产成本、降低环境污染风险,具有较高的经济和生态效益。     

Soil Nutrients Balance in Sweet Orange Intercropped with Some Arable Crops

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L) Osbeck Cv. Agege) was intercropped between 1996 and 1999 on an alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf), at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the best compatible crops that would provide stable environmental conditions for sweet orange growth and yield. The companion crops were maize (M) (Zea mays L. DMR-LSR-W) in the early planting season, followed by cowpea (CP) (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp cv. Ife-brown) in the late planting season of each year, cassava (CA) (Manihot esculenta, Crantz cv. TMS30572), and pineapple (P) (Ananas comosus,cv. Smooth cayenne). For comparison, there were sole plots of sweet orange (SCT), maize (SM), cowpea (SCP), Cassava (SCA), and pineapple (SP) to serve as controls. The treatments were assigned to plots using a randomized complete block design (RCB). The growth of sweet orange intercropped with cassava was not as good as that of sole orange or orange intercropped with maize/cowpea (CT + M/CP) and pineapple (CT + P). Sweet orange in pure stands and CT + M/CP produced flowers 24 months after transplanting, with 75% and 87% of trees producing flowers and fruits, respectively. Forty-two months after transplanting sweet orange, SCT, CT + M/CP, and CT + CA had 1.63, 1.45, and 0.05 citrus fruit t/ha, respectively. Sweet orange intercropped with pineapple did not produce fruits. The effects of the crop mixtures on the soil showed that pH decreased by 2.17, which was a 5.2% decrease for all the cropping systems after three years of continuous cropping. There was a build up of nitrogen (N) and organic carbon in the soil for all the intercrops after the third year of the study. The cropping mixture of CT + M/CP and SCT had the highest N value of 0.70 g N/kg soil as compared to 0.30 g N/kg pre-planting. Zinc (Zn) a major nutrient of citrus, decreased from 3.16 mg/kg to 0.37 mg/kg under SCT and SP cropping systems. Sweet orange leaf analysis for N in all the treatments showed that leaf N was higher than the 2.5–2.7% optimum level, except for citrus intercropped with cassava, which had a leaf N concentration of 2.36%. Sweet orange intercropped with maize/cowpea had the highest phosphorus (P) level of 0.17%, followed by SCT, while sweet orange intercropped with cassava or pineapple had the lowest P values. Potassium (K) was in the adequate range in the sweet orange leaves for all the cropping systems, but the Zn content was below the satisfactory range of 20–50 ppm. The nutrient dynamics were results of the interaction among cropping systems, soil depth, and cropping cycle. Maize intercropped in the early planting season followed by cowpea in the late season was the most compatible crop with sweet orange in terms of fruit yield.