Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations

Abstract

Belowground root systems under pasture intercropping exhibit complex interactions, and the root interactions of different intercropping combinations are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this work, two perennial and annual herbages were intercropped in pairs and evaluated at a ratio of 1:1. The root morphology and topological structure differed significantly with intercropping combinations. (1) Compared with other cropping patterns, the mean root diameter (RD) of intercropped alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) increased notably. The root surface area (RSA), root volume (RV), and mean RD increased significantly when oat (Avena sativa L.) was intercropped with alfalfa. Similarly, the RSA and RV increased in intercropped oat, intercropping relative to monocropping. (2) The forage topological index of the intercropping system was close to one, which was close to that of the herringbone branching. Additionally, the intercropping system had a lower intensity of underground root competition. The root system of the different forage intercropping combinations tended to transition to dichotomous branching. (3) The correlations between root parameters differed according to forage species. Therefore, different intercropping combinations had different belowground root levels of competitiveness and interactions, thereby changing the resource competition environment.