Maize-soybean intercropping improves grain yield via modifying water uptake strategies and dry matter accumulation translocation mechanisms

IF 6.4 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Field Crops Research Pub Date : 2025-10-10 DOI:10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110191

Zhendong Liu , Xiudi Shangguan , Haojie Hu , Xinghui Wang , Miaomiao Qiao , Yunchao Liu , Zhiheng Liang , Rui Zong , Quanqi Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Context

The maize-soybean intercropping pattern has great significance for ensuring food and oilseed security. However, there is still a lack of understanding and theoretical interpretation regarding the influence of the intercropping system on the root water uptake strategies and dry matter (DM) accumulation and translocation.

Objective

This study aimed to systematically investigate the interspecific water relationship in the maize-soybean intercropping system and DM accumulation and translocation.

Methods

A two-year field experiment was conducted. Stable isotopes δ²H and δ¹⁸O in plant and soil water, combined with the MixSIAR model, were used to explore the water use strategies of maize and soybean intercropping patterns and the mechanism of DM accumulation and transport. Four treatments were employed in this study, including monocrop, intercropping of four rows of soybean with two rows of maize (4:2) and four rows of soybean with three rows of maize (4:3).

Results

The results showed that at the R1 growth stage, maize mainly absorbed soil water from the 60–100 cm soil layer in monocrop pattern while at the R3 growth stage, intercropped maize exhibited more obvious characteristics of using deep soil water (60–100 cm). The average contribution rate of the water in this soil layer to maize absorption was 48 % in 2023 and 45.5 % in 2024, respectively, indicating that intercropping utilized water from deeper layers. For soybean, regardless of the planting pattern adopted, the contribution rate of the soil layer from 0 to 20 cm to its total water absorption generally exceeds 60 %. In terms of DM transport, in maize, the 4:2 intercropping pattern significantly increased DM translocation efficiency (DMTE) by 275.0 % and 138.1 % in two years, and the contribution of post-anthesis DM translocation to grain yield (CDMT) by 147.3 % in 2024 compared to monocrop maize. For soybean, the CDMT and DMTE of the two intercrop patterns were mostly significantly lower than those of soybean under monocrop in 2024. Compared with the monocrop patterns, intercropping exhibited a higher crop water productivity (CWP). The land equivalent ratio (LER) of the two intercropping patterns was greater than 1, and the 4:2 intercropping pattern significantly increased by 11.2 % and 11.4 % compared with the 4:3 intercropping pattern in the two years, respectively.

Conclusions and significance

Taking both the CWP and LER into comprehensive consideration, the 4:2 intercropping pattern is the optimal mode. Therefore, the maize-soybean intercropping system, which drives maize to adjust its water absorption strategy and the mechanisms of DM accumulation and translocation, has significant advantages in increasing crop yield, improving land use efficiency, and enhancing CWP.

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玉米-大豆间作通过改变水分吸收策略和干物质积累转运机制提高粮食产量

玉米-大豆间作模式对保障粮食和油籽安全具有重要意义。然而，间作制度对水稻根系水分吸收策略和干物质积累与转运的影响仍缺乏认识和理论解释。目的系统研究玉米-大豆间作系统种间水分关系及速效小麦的积累和转运。方法采用2年野外试验方法。利用植物和土壤水分稳定同位素δ²H和δ¹⁸O，结合MixSIAR模型，探讨玉米和大豆间作模式的水分利用策略及干物质积累和转运机制。试验采用单作、4行大豆与2行玉米间作（4:2）和4行大豆与3行玉米间作（4:3）4种处理。结果表明，在R1生育期，玉米单作模式主要吸收60 ~ 100 cm土层土壤水分，而在R3生育期，间作玉米利用深层土壤水分的特征更为明显（60 ~ 100 cm）。该土层水分对玉米吸收的平均贡献率分别为2023年的48 %和2024年的45.5% %，表明间作利用了较深层的水分。对于大豆，无论采用何种种植方式，0 ~ 20 cm土层对其总吸水性的贡献率普遍超过60% %。在DM转运方面，玉米4:2间作模式在2年内显著提高了DM转运效率（DMTE） 275.0 %和138.1 %，2024年花后DM转运对籽粒产量（CDMT）的贡献比单作玉米提高了147.3 %。对大豆而言，两种间作模式在2024年的CDMT和DMTE均显著低于单作模式。与单作相比，间作具有更高的作物水分生产力（CWP）。两种间作模式的土地等效比（LER）均大于1，其中4:2间作模式两年内分别比4:3间作模式显著提高了11.2 %和11.4 %。综合考虑CWP和LER， 4:2间作模式是最优模式。因此，玉米-大豆间作制度在提高作物产量、提高土地利用效率和提高CWP方面具有显著优势，该制度能促使玉米调整自身的水分吸收策略和水分积累与转运机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Field Crops Research 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

9.60

自引率

12.10%

发文量

307

审稿时长

46 days

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.