Maize/soybean intercropping improves stability of soil aggregates driven by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a black soil of northeast China

Abstract

Background and AimsStudies verify that intercropping in uence the soil aggregates and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but the characteristics and relationships of AMF communities and soil aggregates at different soil depths have not been fully understood. MethodsA long term positioning experiment starting in 2017, including two-factor experiment of N application level and cultivation. The N application level including N0 (0 kg•hm −2 ) and N2 (240 kg•hm −2 and 80 kg•hm −2 for maize and soybean, respectively). The cultivation, including monoculture maize, monoculture soybean, and maize/soybean intercropping (intercropping maize, intercropping soybean). Soil aggregates and AMF were collected and analyzed from the difference depths soil. ResultsResults showed that intercropping can improve the macro-aggregate (>5 mm) content of maize soil at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth under N0 level. Also, the intercropping can only improve the macro-aggregate content of soybean soil at 0-15 cm depth. Likewise, the results also proved that increasing the N fertilizer application rate can signi cantly decrease the macro-aggregates in intercropping soil at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths. Moreover, intercropping treatment can signi cantly improve the AMF diversity of maize and soybean soil at different depths, while the application of N fertilizer signi cantly reduced the AMF diversity of soil at different depths. ConclusionThe Structural equation modeling indicated that the intercropping system could in uence and participate in the formation of soil aggregates by changing the soil AMF community and relative abundance, thereby contributing the soil stability. These results reveal the mechanisms of improvement of soil quality through diversity planting patterns.

Evaluation of the effects of long‐term maize–peanut intercropping on soil aggregate stability based on different methods

“…This result was the same as the findings of Zhang et al. (2022), indicating that intercropping could increase the aggregate content of >0.25 mm.…”

“…The R 0.25 of intercropping was greater than that of monoculture in dry and wet sieving tests. This result was the same as the findings of Zhang et al (2022), indicating that intercropping could increase the aggregate content of >0.25 mm. The order of MWD and GMD in the three planting patterns under the Le Bissonnais method was consistent with that of dry and wet sieving, all showing M-P > SM > SP (Figure 7), indicating that the stability of aggregates in maize-peanut intercropping was greater than that in maize only and peanut only.…”

“…This finding confirms our second hypothesis that long‐term intercropping can increase the mechanical stability and water stability of aggregates. The reason for this phenomenon was that intercropping can increase the input of fresh organic matter, plant roots and litter, providing a material basis for the cementation of aggregates, increase the proportion of large aggregates and thus improve the stability of aggregates (Li et al., 2014; Tian et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2022). In addition, the soil aggregate stability of SM was greater than that of SP in dry and wet sieving tests, which might be because of the more developed root system of maize (Garland et al., 2017).…”

“…Reasonable intercropping can effectively utilize the time and space differences of crops to maximize the efficiency of crop photosynthesis and land use, thereby increasing overall crop yield (Bélanger & Pilling, 2019). In addition, intercropping can enhance the risk resistance of agricultural systems, improve soil structure, increase soil and water conservation capacity and increase soil fertility, which is an important way to promote the healthy management of agricultural ecosystems and achieve sustainable agricultural development (Liang & Shi, 2021; Zhang et al., 2022).…”

Unregulated GmAGL82 due to Phosphorus Deficiency Positively Regulates Root Nodule Growth in Soybean

“…This demonstrates the significant contribution of biological nitrogen fixation in soybean cultivation to increased yields and reduced nitrogen fertilizer usage [5]. In sustainable agricultural production, intercropping with soybeans not only enhances the yield of food crops but also improves soil fertility and field ecological conditions, thereby regulating carbon and nitrogen dynamics and phosphorus efficiency [6,7].…”