Jinchuan Zhang , Wei Yao , Yongkang Wen , Xin Qian , Leanne Peixoto , Shengquan Yang , Shaoyong Meng , Yadong Yang , Zhaohai Zeng , Huadong Zang
{"title":"Temporal and spatial patterns of N2O emissions in maize/legume strip intercropping: Effects of straw incorporation and crop interactions","authors":"Jinchuan Zhang , Wei Yao , Yongkang Wen , Xin Qian , Leanne Peixoto , Shengquan Yang , Shaoyong Meng , Yadong Yang , Zhaohai Zeng , Huadong Zang","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109850","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Maize/legume intercropping presents a sustainable agricultural strategy to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and mitigate environmental impacts.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>The impact of maize/legume strip intercropping on N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, crop yields, and the associated mechanisms are not yet fully understood, particularly in the context of straw incorporation practices.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment comparing five cropping systems (maize/peanut strip intercropping, maize/soybean strip intercropping, and corresponding monocropping) either with or without straw incorporation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Maize/legume strip intercropping increased yields by 15–24 % and reduced N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by 15–22 % compared to the expected intercropping. This increase in yields, combined with the reduction in N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, led to a 20–39 % reduction N<sub>2</sub>O emission per unit of production in intercropped systems. The primary reduction in emissions occurred 7–10 days after the second fertilization, accounting for over half of the total emission reduction. Spatial analysis revealed that the majority of the reduction originated from the maize and interaction rows. Soil nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>) concentration emerged as the most critical factor influencing N<sub>2</sub>O flux, with NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentration also playing a significant role. Notably, straw incorporation did not increase N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from intercropping systems, while yield tended to increase, albeit not significantly.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Maize/legume strip intercropping enhances nitrogen utilization, significantly mitigates N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, and boosts crop productivity; however, these effects remain consistent regardless of straw incorporation practices.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study highlights the advantages of maize/legume strip intercropping systems in reducing N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and its potential contribution to crop production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109850"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Field Crops Research","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429025001157","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRONOMY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Context
Maize/legume intercropping presents a sustainable agricultural strategy to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and mitigate environmental impacts.
Research question
The impact of maize/legume strip intercropping on N2O emissions, crop yields, and the associated mechanisms are not yet fully understood, particularly in the context of straw incorporation practices.
Methods
A two-year field experiment comparing five cropping systems (maize/peanut strip intercropping, maize/soybean strip intercropping, and corresponding monocropping) either with or without straw incorporation.
Results
Maize/legume strip intercropping increased yields by 15–24 % and reduced N2O emissions by 15–22 % compared to the expected intercropping. This increase in yields, combined with the reduction in N2O emissions, led to a 20–39 % reduction N2O emission per unit of production in intercropped systems. The primary reduction in emissions occurred 7–10 days after the second fertilization, accounting for over half of the total emission reduction. Spatial analysis revealed that the majority of the reduction originated from the maize and interaction rows. Soil nitrate (NO3-) concentration emerged as the most critical factor influencing N2O flux, with NH4+ concentration also playing a significant role. Notably, straw incorporation did not increase N2O emissions from intercropping systems, while yield tended to increase, albeit not significantly.
Conclusions
Maize/legume strip intercropping enhances nitrogen utilization, significantly mitigates N2O emissions, and boosts crop productivity; however, these effects remain consistent regardless of straw incorporation practices.
Significance
This study highlights the advantages of maize/legume strip intercropping systems in reducing N2O emissions and its potential contribution to crop production.
期刊介绍:
Field Crops Research is an international journal publishing scientific articles on:
√ experimental and modelling research at field, farm and landscape levels
on temperate and tropical crops and cropping systems,
with a focus on crop ecology and physiology, agronomy, and plant genetics and breeding.