Scholar - SciOpen

Co-ridge planting can further enhance the yield advantage of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercropping (maize||peanut). This study aimed to explore the distribution characteristics of available phosphorus in maize||peanut soil and the characteristics of phosphorus absorption and utilization in crops under the co-ridge planting, which could provide theoretical and technical basis for sustainable high-yield cultivation of maize||peanut.

【Method】

The experiment was conducted in the farm of Henan University of Science and Technology from 2023 to 2024, using a field randomized block experiment. Under the conditions of no phosphorus (P₀) and 180 kg P₂O₅·hm^-2 (P₁₈₀), the effects of co-ridge planting of maize and peanut intercropping (RIC) on the distribution characteristics of soil available phosphorus in 0-60 cm soil layer as well as the absorption and utilization of phosphorus by crops in maize||peanut were studied with flat planting of maize and peanut intercropping (FIC) as the control.

【Result】

In the horizontal direction, the distribution of soil available phosphorus in 0-60 cm soil layer under FIC treatment exhibited “” (gentle) characteristics, while under RIC treatment, it showed “” (ridge) characteristics, under P₁₈₀ the “low-high-low” “” (ridge) characteristics was more prominent. Compared with FIC, RIC was beneficial to increase the soil available phosphorus content in the 0-40 cm soil layer within the planting unit, which significantly increased by 18.38%-21.29% under P₁₈₀. Compared with FIC, RIC alleviated the interspecific phosphorus nutrition competition, increased the phosphorus content of intercropping maize and peanut, significantly increased the phosphorus accumulation, and promoted the phosphorus distribution to maize grain and peanut seed. Compared with FIC, RIC significantly increased the phosphorus absorption and yield of intercropping maize, intercropping peanut, and intercropping system, within the increase range of phosphorus absorption being 18.83%-32.62%, 24.08%-41.78% and 21.06%-37.14%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with P₀, P₁₈₀ could further increase soil available phosphorus content and phosphorus content in maize and peanut, promote phosphorus absorption in intercropping system, and significantly increase maize and peanut yield and intercropping advantage.

【Conclusion】

The co-ridge planting could further improve the yield advantage of maize||peanut compared with flat planting. The key lied in the fact that it improved the available phosphorus distribution in 0-60 cm soil and increased the available phosphorus content in the 0-40 cm soil layer of the planting unit, alleviated the interspecific phosphorus nutrition competition, and promoted the absorption of phosphorus in maize and peanut and its distribution to seed. Phosphorus application had a significant positive regulation effect.

Open Access Research paper Issue

The importance of aboveground and belowground interspecific interactions in determining crop growth and advantages of peanut/maize intercropping

Nianyuan Jiao, Jiangtao Wang, Chao Ma, Chaochun Zhang, Dayong Guo, Fusuo Zhang, Erik Steen Jensen

The Crop Journal 2021, 9(6): 1460-1469

Published: 26 January 2021

Abstract

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Intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) often results in greater yields than the respective sole crops. However, there is limited knowledge of aboveground and belowground interspecific interactions between maize and peanut in field. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of interspecific interactions on plant growth and grain yield for a peanut/maize intercropping system under different nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels. The method of root separation was employed to differentiate belowground from aboveground interspecific interactions. We observed that the global interspecific interaction effect on the shoot biomass of the intercropping system decreased with the coexistence period, and belowground interaction contributed more than aboveground interaction to advantages of the intercropping in terms of shoot biomass and grain yield. There was a positive effect from aboveground and belowground interspecific interactions on crop plant growth in the intercropping system, except that aboveground interaction had a negative effect on peanut during the late coexistence period. The advantage of intercropping on grain came mainly from increased maize yield (means 95%) due to aboveground interspecific competition for light and belowground interaction (61%–72% vs. 28%–39% in fertilizer treatments). There was a negative effect on grain yield from aboveground interaction for peanut, but belowground interspecific interaction positively affected peanut grain yield. The supply of N, P, or N + P increased grain yield of intercropped maize and the contribution from aboveground interspecific interaction. Our study suggests that the advantages of peanut/maize intercropping for yield mainly comes from aboveground interspecific competition for maize and belowground interspecific facilitation for peanut, and their respective yield can be enhanced by N and P. These findings are important for managing the intercropping system and optimizing the benefits from using this system.

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