Characteristics of Nitrogen Uptake, Use and Transfer in a Wheat-Maize-Soybean Relay Intercropping System

Yong, Taiwen; Liu, Xiaoming; Yang, Feng; Song, Chun; Wang, Xiaochun; Liu, Weiguo; Su, Benying; Zhou, Li; Yang, Wenyu

doi:10.1626/pps.18.388

Cited by 55 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…N transfer is defined as the movement of N from one living plant (termed an "N donor") to another ("N receiver"). It is a bi-directional process (Yong et al 2015), but the net movement of N tends to flow from plants containing relatively high N (i.e., legumes and other N fixers) to those with a greater N demand (non-fixers) (Carlsson and Huss-Danell 2014). N transfer is highly variable and can supply anywhere from 0 to 80 % of a receiver plant's N demand (Moyer-Henry et al 2006;He et al 2009;Chalk et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Belowground nitrogen transfer from legumes to non-legumes under managed herbaceous cropping systems. A review

Thilakarathna

McElroy

Chapagain

et al. 2016

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

155

111

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Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in most agroecosystems and thus critical for sustaining high yields. Conventional agricultural practices use synthetic fertilizers to ensure an adequate supply of nitrogen in soils, but fertilizers come at a significant monetary and environmental cost. A strategy to improve nitrogen supply in cropping systems is the inclusion of nitrogen-fixing legumes, which can provide nitrogen benefits to companion crops through belowground nitrogen transfer. However, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and factors that govern nitrogen transfer is important in order to determine potential areas for improving this association. Here, we review the mechanisms of belowground nitrogen transfer in managed herbaceous cropping systems, focusing on forage systems. We classify three major routes of nitrogen transfer from legumes to non-legumes: (1) decomposition of legume root tissues and uptake of mineralized nitrogen by neighboring plants, (2) exudation of soluble nitrogen compounds by legumes and uptake by non-legumes, and (3) transfer of nitrogen mediated by plant-associated mycorrhizae. Literature data shows that rates of nitrogen transfer range from 0 to 73 % from forage legumes to companion grasses in mixed stands, depending on the legume species and cultivar. We list the factors that affect nitrogen transfer including abiotic factors, e.g., water stress, temperature, light, soil available nitrogen, and application of nitrogen fertilizer, and biotic factors, e.g., root contact, plant density, growth stage, production year, defoliation, and root herbivores. While the rates of nitrogen transfer are often constrained by abiotic conditions, such as temperature and water availability, that are beyond the control of growers, agronomic practices, e.g., planting density and choice of species and cultivar, may help to increase nitrogen transfer. Ultimately, the selection of plant pairs with compatible traits offers the best path forward to improving nitrogen transfer in intercrops.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Belowground nitrogen transfer from legumes to non-legumes under managed herbaceous cropping systems. A review

Thilakarathna

McElroy

Chapagain

et al. 2016

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

155

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It has been shown that organic fertilizers such as compost manure caused no heavy metal pollution into the soil and added acceptable levels of organic matter and nutrients to corn plants and soil (Gil et al, 2008). In a wheat-maize system, Yong et al (2015) suggested that organic manure must be integrated with chemical N to sustain the productivity and promote C and N sequestration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic and conventional farming differentially influenced soil respiration, physiology, growth and head quality of artichoke cultivars

Leskovar

Othman

2018

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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Soil amendment using organic fertilizer has been used widely to dispose animal waste, reduce environmental pollution and improve soil and fruit quality. The objective of this two-year study was to assess the influence of organic and conventional systems on growth, marketable yield, head quality (chlorogenic acid and cynarin concentration) and soil chemical properties of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus). Cultivars used were Deserto, Lulu, Romolo, 11-018, 12-179, Green Globe Improved and Imperial Star. Fertilizers were applied to both conventional and organic soil through drip irrigation system. In both years, significant differences were found across cultivars and soil type. Although cultivar response to soil system treatments were inconsistent across the two growing seasons, the cv. Imperial Star had the lowest marketable yield and head quality. Artichoke grown in the conventional field had higher plant height and width, chlorophyll content index (SPAD), leaf area index (LAI), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis (Pn) and marketable yield. Conversely, artichoke head quality from the organic field was higher than conventional. Organic system increased chlorogenic acid by 31% and cynarin by 12% compared to the conventional system. In fact, after two years of soil amendment, organic fertilizer improved soil respiration-CO 2 (soil health indicator) by 20-fold compared to chemical fertilizer (conventional field). Overall, based on this two-year study we suggest organic farming as the best system to improve soil and head quality of globe artichoke, but it may not be the best option for farmers when yield is the primary target short-term.

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“…Intercropping, as the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops in the same site, had long been used for crop production in time and space (Awal, Koshi, & Ikeda, 2006;Ofosu-Budu, Noumura, & Fujita, 1995;Yong et al, 2015). Researches on intercropping typically indicate that increased biomass production is a result of improved resource use efficiency of water, nutrients, land, solar radiation, and atmospheric CO 2 (Antunes, Varennes, Rajcan, & Goss, 2006;Isaac, Hinsinger, & Harm, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen uptake and transfer in a soybean/maize intercropping system in the karst region of southwest China

Zhang

Zeng

Zou

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Nitrogen (N) deficiency occurs in over 80% of karst soil of southwest China, which restricts regional agricultural production. To test whether N fixed by legumes becomes available to nonfixing companion species, N fluxes between soybean and maize under no, partial, and total restriction of root contact were measured on a karst site in southwest China. N content and its transfer between soybean and maize intercrops were explored in a 2‐year plot experiment, with N movement between crops monitored using 15N isotopes. Mesh barrier (30 μm) and no restrictions barrier root separation increased N uptake of maize by 1.28%–3.45% and 3.2%–3.45%, respectively. N uptake by soybean with no restrictions root separation was 1.23 and 1.56 times higher than that by mesh and solid barriers, respectively. In the unrestricted root condition, N transfer from soybean to maize in no restrictions barrier was 2.34–3.02 mg higher than that of mesh barrier. Therefore, it was implied that soybean/maize intercropping could improve N uptake and transfer efficiently in the karst region of southwest China.

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Characteristics of Nitrogen Uptake, Use and Transfer in a Wheat-Maize-Soybean Relay Intercropping System

Cited by 55 publications

References 47 publications

Belowground nitrogen transfer from legumes to non-legumes under managed herbaceous cropping systems. A review

Belowground nitrogen transfer from legumes to non-legumes under managed herbaceous cropping systems. A review

Organic and conventional farming differentially influenced soil respiration, physiology, growth and head quality of artichoke cultivars

Nitrogen uptake and transfer in a soybean/maize intercropping system in the karst region of southwest China

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