Effects of Wheat-Faba Bean Intercropping on Soil Microbial Community Structure in the Rhizosphere

Yongbo Xu,Baokun Lei,Yanfeng Tang

doi:10.4236/as.2018.911096

Abstract

Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) analysis and real-time quantitative PCR were used to investigate the effect of wheat-faba bean intercropping on soil microbial community in the rhizosphere and ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) at harvest stage via field trials in the red soil. We found that the bacteria and fungi of faba bean and actinomycetes of wheat in the rhizosphere showed significant (p < 0.05) difference between intercrops and monocrops at harvest. In total, 37 PLFA were detected at harvest stage in the rhizosphere, including 31 bacterial PLFA, 3 fungal PLFA, and 3 actinomycete PLFA. Compared with the rhizosphere of monocropped faba bean, a lower AOB abundance was found in the intercropping at harvest stage, whereas no significant difference in the AOB abundance was found in the rhizosphere of monocropped and intercropped wheat. There was no significant difference in the AOA abundance between monocrops and intercrops rhizosphere, but a higher AOA abundance in the intercropping systems was found. After intercropping, the abundance of AOB in rhizosphere was significantly higher than that of AOA. Our findings suggest that wheat-faba bean intercropping may change the micro-environment and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere.

Highlights

Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) analysis and real-time quantitative PCR were used to investigate the effect of wheat-faba bean intercropping on soil microbial community in the rhizosphere and ammonia monooxygenase gene abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) at harvest stage via field trials in the red soil
Compared with the rhizosphere of monocropped faba bean, a lower ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance was found in the intercropping at harvest stage, whereas no significant difference in the AOB abundance was found in the rhizosphere of monocropped and intercropped wheat
The results showed that the bacterial PLFA and fungal PLFA in the rhizosphere of intercropped faba bean and actinomyces of intercropped wheat were significantly (p < 0.05) different from those of monocrops at harvest stage

Summary

Introduction

Intercropping, which grows at least two crop species on the same pieces of land at the same time, with >28 million hectares annually sown in China [1], is common in other parts of the world, such as in India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa [2]. It plays an irreplaceable role in agricultural production in Yunnan Province by benefitting from the rich biological resources. Intercropping cultivation could utilize resources more efficiently [5] and increase the microbial diversity in the soils [6]. Legume-grass intercrops are known to produce higher yields [12]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion