Abstract
ABSTRACT Intercropping can introduce greater plant diversity and functional complementarity in an arable crop system but inter- and intracompetition can between intercropped crops. The rhizo-box was established of apple-white clover intercropped system to examine the competitive relationship between intercropped crops on the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the competitive relationship between intercropped crops was dynamic and changed with the crop competitiveness. Crop competitiveness was characterized by root development, although intercropping inhibited the development and nutrient accumulation aboveground of apple trunks and branches, intercropped apples still maintained a larger root system than under monoculture and the root morphology of intercropped apples changed significantly. White clover had lower competitiveness than apple at the beginning of the year, which was reflected in the inhibited development in May. However in July and October, intercropped white clover had more biomass and nutrient accumulation than under monoculture.
Highlights
Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crop species in the same field [1] and can introduce greater plant diversity and functional complementarity in arable crop systems [2]
The development of apple was significantly inhibited by intercropping with white clover (Table 1)
The inhibition of apple leaves mainly occurred in July, which could reflect a major growth period of apple, i.e., the growing of autumn shoots, on the Loess Plateau
Summary
Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crop species in the same field [1] and can introduce greater plant diversity and functional complementarity in arable crop systems [2]. Because the Loess Plateau has been suffered many serious environmental problems such as soil erosion [3], substantial soil organic matter losses, nutrient imbalances, and water deficits, agricultural management, especially intercropping can have strong sustained beneficial effects on soil chemical properties, and microbial communities [4]. These problems can be effectively alleviated [5,6,7], which makes intercropping one of the most important agricultural management measures on the Loess Plateau. The situation has occurred in the Loess Plateau apple orchard tree-grass systems but has not been widely reported
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