Wheat Monoculture Research Articles

Enhancing Soil Health and Crop Productivity in Andisol Through Wheat- Fabaceae Intercropping

ABSTRACT Andisols are the least extensive soil order, accounting for less than 1% of Earth´s surface. Chile occupies 50% of the country´s land area for cereal production and is of great importance to agriculture. However, few studies have investigated the performance of cereal production under intercropping in P-deficient Andisols. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different Fabaceae species and wheat in an intercropping system on root morphology and soil properties. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block experimental design with a factorial arrangement with two different phosphorus levels and cropping systems (wheat monoculture, wheat/lupine, and wheat/chickpea intercropping). Bulk soil samples were collected from a field that had been cultivated with wheat. Chemical properties, basal soil respiration, and enzymatic activity were measured. The morphological characteristics of wheat roots and crop yield were also determined. According to the multiple linear regression model (p < .001), this relative yield was related to an increase in phosphatase activity and root biomass. Furthermore, the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of the wheat/lupine intercrop surpassed 1 in both seasons, indicating improved soil and nutrient utilization. In contrast, the wheat/chickpea intercrops had LER values lower than one during the second season. This confirmed that wheat/lupine intercropping is a recommended practice for enhancing ecosystem services and agricultural production in Andisols.

Fungal Disease Tolerance with a Focus on Wheat: A Review.

In this paper, an extensive review of the literature is provided examining the significance of tolerance to fungal diseases in wheat amidst the escalating global demand for wheat and threats from environmental shifts and pathogen movements. The current comprehensive reliance on agrochemicals for disease management poses risks to food safety and the environment, exacerbated by the emergence of fungicide resistance. While resistance traits in wheat can offer some protection, these traits do not guarantee the complete absence of losses during periods of vigorous or moderate disease development. Furthermore, the introduction of individual resistance genes into wheat monoculture exerts selection pressure on pathogen populations. These disadvantages can be addressed or at least mitigated with the cultivation of tolerant varieties of wheat. Research in this area has shown that certain wheat varieties, susceptible to severe infectious diseases, are still capable of achieving high yields. Through the analysis of the existing literature, this paper explores the manifestations and quantification of tolerance in wheat, discussing its implications for integrated disease management and breeding strategies. Additionally, this paper addresses the ecological and evolutionary aspects of tolerance in the pathogen-plant host system, emphasizing its potential to enhance wheat productivity and sustainability.

Improving the sustainability of arable cropping systems by modifying root traits: A modelling study for winter wheat

AbstractModifying root systems by crop breeding has been attracting increasing attention as a potentially effective strategy to enhance the sustainability of agriculture by increasing soil organic matter (SOM) stocks and soil quality, whilst maintaining or even improving yields. We used the new soil‐crop model USSF (Uppsala model of Soil Structure and Function) to investigate the potential of this management strategy using winter wheat as a model crop. USSF combines a simple (generic) crop growth model with physics‐based descriptions of soil water flow, water uptake and transpiration by plants. It also includes a model of the interactions between soil structure dynamics and organic matter turnover that considers the effects of physical protection and microbial priming on the decomposition of SOM. The model was first calibrated against field data on soil water contents and both above‐ground and root biomass of winter wheat measured during one growing season in a clay soil in Uppsala, Sweden using the GLUE method to identify five ‘acceptable’ parameter sets. We created four model crops (ideotypes) by modifying root‐related parameters to mimic winter wheat phenotypes with improved root traits. Long‐term (30‐year) simulations of a conventionally tilled monoculture of winter wheat were then performed to evaluate the potential effects of cultivating these ideotypes on the soil water balance, soil organic matter stocks and grain yields. Our results showed that ideotypes with deeper root systems or root systems that are more effective for water uptake increased grain yields by 3% and SOM stocks in the soil profile by ca. 0.4%–0.5% in a 30‐year perspective (as an average of the five parameter sets). An ideotype in which below‐ground allocation of dry matter was increased at the expense of stem growth gave even larger increases in SOM stocks (ca. 1.4%). An ideotype combining all three modifications (deeper and more effective root systems and greater root production) showed even more promising results: compared with the baseline scenario, surface runoff decreased while yields were predicted to increase by ca. 7% and SOM stocks in the soil profile by ca. 2%, which is roughly equivalent to ca. 20% of the 4‐per‐mille target (https://4p1000.org/).

Whether Wheat–Maize Rotation Influenced Soil Organic Carbon Content in Sushui River Basin

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) content in farmland is crucial for soil quality maintenance and food security. However, the relationship between crop rotation and SOC sequestration remains unclear. We used sample data on SOC, collected in September of every year, from cultivated land for quality monitoring from 2017 to 2021, combined with spatially extracted planting system information, and focused on the effects of wheat–maize crop rotation on SOC in the Sushui River Basin. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the SOC content was only significantly different between wheat monoculture and maize monoculture. Among the three cropping systems, wheat–maize rotation did not show absolute superiority. The Geodetector analysis showed that the planting system dominated the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (p = 0.05), but its explanatory factor was only 5%, and the explanatory power was significantly improved after interaction with other factors. Geographically weighted regression showed that wheat–maize rotation had a trade-off effect with elevation and synergistic effects with rainfall and pH. It displayed a synergistic effect with temperature in the southwest and a trade-off effect in the northeast. The degrees of trade-offs and synergy varied spatially among all interacting factors. We focused on the spatial heterogeneity of soil organic carbon in a small watershed, and the results had scientific significance for the layout of planting systems according to local conditions and the improvement in soil organic carbon levels.

Супресивен ефект на почвата към ризоктонийно кореново гниене, индуциран чрез имитирана монокултура на пшеница

Disease decline and induction of soil suppressiveness by continuous (5-6 years) monoculture with susceptible plant-host have been reported for various crop-pathogen systems. The present study achieves the goal of inducing suppressive effect in soil towards Rhizoctonia root rot (Rhizoctonia solani AG 4) through monoculture of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Twenty four high-quality wheat (c. Exotic) seeds were planted in plastic containers, each containing 1.1 L Alluvial-Meadow (sandy-clay) soil (Eutric Fluvisols, according to FAO classification). According to the treatment applied, the resulting plants were grown for 0-4 successive short cropping cycles, each lasting three months. Disease suppressiveness was measured in a bioassay in which the experimental units were rectangular, plastic containers (26 x 6 x 8 cm), with drainage holes in the bottom and detachable trays allowing for manual irrigation from the bottom of the container, 7 cm height of the column of tested soil in each container and a two-row crop of wheat (c. Exotic, 2 rows x 12 plants, 2 x 3 cm plant spacing). The spread of the disease was measured from a focus (point) source of inoculum of the pathogen – 20 inoculum grains from a pure culture developed on autoclaved (30 min at 121 °C) barley, introduced into the soil at the beginning of both rows after emergence of the plants. Immediately after termination of the soil suppressiveness test, the abundance of the major groups of soil microorganisms were determined in rhizosphere soil in each treatment by using the method of decimal dilutions and subsequent culturing on agar media. Separately, bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas were isolated from the rhizosphere soil on King’s medium. The antagonistic activity of 10 Pseudomonas spp. isolates from each treatment was tested against R. solani AG 4 in vitro by the double culture method. The monoculture of wheat imitated under controlled conditions resulted in a significant (P&lt;0.05) reduction of the spread of Rhizoctonia root rot from the source of infection. Furthermore, statistically significant differences (P&lt;0.05) were also found between the individual treatments with pre-cultivation of wheat: with the increase in the number of cultivation cycles from one to four, there was a significant reduction in disease spread – by 19.5%, 31.0%, 40.5% and 54.8%, respectively, as compared to the untreated control. Simultaneously, no substantial alterations were observed in the population densities of the monitored groups of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of the experimental plants, including ammonifying and spore-forming bacteria, microscopic fungi, Actinomycetes and bacteria, utilizing mineral N. With the increase in soil suppressiveness from the first to the fifth growing cycle of the crop, a significant increase in the average antagonistic activity of the isolated Pseudomonas spp. against R. solani AG 4 was observed. The thesis is argued that shattering rachis of the ripe ear in wild forms conditioned a continuous “natural” monoculture in which bread wheat and its predecessors grew and evolve during the prehistoric era. We speculate that this condition, along with the lack of genes for resistance to necrotrophic pathogens, have given rise to evolutionary stable defence mechanism and the latter based on mutualistic relationships between the host-plant and bacteria that naturally inhabit rhizosphere and exhibiting high antagonistic (antibiotic) activity against soil-borne plant pathogens. A manifestation of this mechanism is the increasing suppressive response of the soil and the disease decline during or after continuous wheat monoculture. The results obtained in this study are discussed in the light of the microbial eco-evolutionary dynamics in the plant rhizosphere. The progressively increasing pathogen-antagonistic activity of Pseudomonas spp. isolates is discussed as an example of “rapid microbial evolution”, accomplished by possible horizontal gene transfer within one or more successive cultivation cycles of the wheat crop.

Promoting more sustainable agriculture in the Moroccan drylands by shifting from conventional wheat monoculture to a rotation with chickpea and lentils

Modern agriculture is linked to desertification, massive biodiversity loss and environmental degradation of the ecosystems. In contrast, crop rotation represents an agronomic approach included in conservation agriculture with important environmental and agronomic benefits, such as N fixation, pest and weed control, improvement of soil characteristics and reduction of crop fertilizer demand. Wheat is a staple food in Morocco, as are legumes, which are present in a wide variety of Moroccan recipes and represent an important source of energy and nutrients. The present study evaluates the environmental performance of incorporating chickpea and lentils in a crop rotation system in Morocco that aims to decrease the environmental footprint of the traditional wheat-based crop. An attributional Life Cycle Assessment was conducted in three cropping systems that are grown in two-year cycles: R1 (chickpea:wheat), R2 (lentil:wheat) and M (wheat:wheat). Emissions were quantified in terms of life-cycle related environmental impacts and compared between cropping systems based on two functional unit (kg of wheat harvested). Rotation systems stand out as the most environmentally friendly, with the most notable reductions in the categories of stratospheric ozone depletion and water scarcity (34 % and 50 %, respectively). The environmental improvement from crop rotations was most significant when considering the calculation basis of hectare cultivated versus kg of wheat, which is due to the estimated yield trade-offs in both approaches. In terms of biodiversity loss, no significant differences were observed between crop rotations and monoculture, as the impact on this indicator is mainly attributed to land conversion pressures. This study provides guidance for better formulating crop rotation strategies in the Mediterranean and similar arid regions. Future research should also assess the effects of agriculture on ecosystem services to provide a more comprehensive analysis to support decision making.

The Effect of Using Elements of Sustainable Agrotechnology in Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Monoculture

In sustainable cultivation technologies, the method of managing crop residues and the microbiological activity of the soil, supported by the application of effective microorganisms, is of particular importance. Unfortunately, wheat monocultures are still common. Therefore, there is also a need to introduce elements of sustainable agrotechnics to such crops. The aim of the research was to compare the effect of 18 spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation technologies in a monoculture. Therefore, a four-year two-factor experiment was carried out with a spring wheat monoculture. Six ways managing the organic matter before sowing and tillage (first factor) and the application of microbiological preparations (second factor) were tested, leasing to a total of 18 experimental objects. The parameterized weed infestation, chlorophyll index, and leaf area index, elements of the yield structure, and spring wheat yield were determined through tillage technology. In most cases, the application of biopreparations was not found to have a significant impact on the tested features. The highest yields of spring wheat were obtained through the following technologies: application of EM or UGmax microbiological preparations on the shredded straw of the forecrop; mixing the forecrop with the soil using a grubber immediately after harvest; sowing the white mustard catch crop; winter plowing.

Impact of cropping and tillage system on take-all disease of winter wheat (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici)

Diseases induced by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (G. g. tritici) are the most important wheat root diseases in all cropping areas around the world and significantly reduces yield and quality of wheat grain. A multi-year field experiment was used to evaluate infestation of winter wheat roots by G. g. tritici. The experimental factors included: I. cropping system (CS): 1) crop rotation (CR): pea – winter wheat – spring barley; 2) monoculture of winter wheat (MON); and II. tillage system (TS): 1) CT – conventional tillage, 2) RT – reduced tillage, and 3) NT – no-tillage. The following cultivation treatment were applied: a shallow ploughing after previous harvest and pre-sowing ploughing in the CT system; double cultivation instead of both aforementioned ploughing treatments in the RT system; and glyphosate in NT system. A cultivation set, consisting of a cultivator, a string roller, and a harrow, was used before wheat sowing. The value of the index of winter wheat roots infestation by G. g. tritici was significantly higher in the monoculture than in crop rotation. The value was also higher in NT than in CT system. In wheat monoculture with NT system, the percentage of highly and severely infested plants was higher than in crop rotation with CT system.

The Effects of Various Long-Term Fertilizer Applications on Soil Carbon Fractions in a Winter Wheat Monoculture Area

The Loess Plateau in China has long grappled with issues such as chronic soil erosion, poor soil structure, and diminished organic matter. Soil organic carbon plays a crucial role in enhancing soil fertility, and fertilization is a key tool that influences it. In a comprehensive field experiment, we examined five fertilization methods: no fertilization (CK); traditional fertilization used by local farmers (FP); nutrient-balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (OF); chemical fertilizers used in conjunction with organic fertilizers (OFM); and chemical fertilizers paired with bio-organic fertilizers (OFB). Our findings revealed that the OFM and OFB treatments were the most effective, explaining 84.35% and 81.26% of the variation in soil carbon sequestration, respectively. Further, the OF, OFM, and OFB treatments demonstrated superior effectiveness compared with the FP treatment in enhancing the soil carbon fractions. However, these fertilization patterns did not significantly alter the active-to-inert carbon ratio of the soil. OF, OFM, and OFB treatments enhanced the stability of soil carbon pools more than FP treatment. In structural equation modeling, factors such as microbial biomass nitrogen and phosphorus, soil pH, and β-N-acetyl glucosidase indirectly exhibited a limiting effect on the carbon pool stability index (CPSI), while β-glucosidase displayed an indirect positive correlation with the carbon fractions. In contrast, dissolved organic carbon, low-molecular-weight organic carbon, high-molecular-weight organic carbon, and crop yield demonstrated direct positive correlations with the CPSI. Consequently, both a balanced application of chemical fertilizers and the combination of organic and chemical fertilizers were effective in enhancing and sustaining the soil’s organic carbon content, thereby contributing to soil fertility stability. To this end, this study can inform the efficient selection and use of fertilizers, improving crop yield and soil carbon content.

Yield of spring durum wheat against the background of cellulolytic activity of the soil

Long-term studies were carried out in the field at the station on crop rotations and monocultures of the department of agriculture and resource-saving technologies of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "FNTs BST RAS", located in the Orenburg region (51.775125° N and 55.306547° E.). The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of the cellulolytic activity of the soil and the quantitative content of nitrate nitrogen in the soil in combination with meteorological factors on the yield of wheat grown for many years (21 years) in crop rotations and monoculture in the Southern Urals. The object of the study is spring durum wheat cultivated in crop rotations of various rotations, a set of crops and monoculture, as well as soil samples according to the experimental options. When determining the cellulolytic activity of the soil, the method of decomposition of linen fabric under the influence of microorganisms was used. The yield of durum wheat is influenced by such factors as predecessors, including their aftereffect in the crop rotation system, as well as the prolonged effect of mineral fertilizers. The average yield of durum wheat (for 21 years of research) in six-field crop rotations is 0.71 t/ha, with fertilizer 0.76 t/ha. Cultivation of durum wheat in two field crop rotation increases its yield by 0.07 t, in six fields 0.23 t/ha relative to monocultivation of the crop according to two backgrounds of soil nutrition. Cultivation of durum wheat in a six-field crop rotation on green manure fallow is accompanied by increased cellulolytic activity (12.0%). In the monoculture of durum wheat, the consumption of N-NO3 during the growing season increases to 20 mg with fertilizer up to 16 mg per kg of soil on an unfertilized background, which is associated with an increase in weediness and consumption of the macronutrient by the weed component. The share of output of grain units of durum wheat in six-field crop rotations is up to 16.3%, in two-field crop rotations up to 47.9%, with mono-cultivation of crops 100%.

Influence of wheat-walnut intercropping on the Sitobion avenae and its predatory natural enemies

Intercropping is widely applied all over the world, and it often causes significant changes in the number of arthropod communities. Walnut-wheat intercropping systems are commonly applied in Southern Xinjiang of China. But it is still not clear how wheat-walnut intercropping influence pest and natural enemy populations, and their ratio in wheat fields. To clarify this question and provide guidance to pest management, field surveys were conducted in Xinjiang during 2017–2019. Three intercropping treatments were tested, which were wheat-walnut 10:6, 25:6, and monoculture wheat. Our results showed that the abundance of predators (mainly ladybeetles and lacewings) increased in wheat under wheat-walnut intercropping systems (especially in intercrop treatment 10:6). Compared with monoculture wheat, the ratio of predators to Sitobion avenae was not enhanced in wheat-walnut intercropping fields. S. avenae populations increased in the walnut intercropped wheat fields. The intercropping system was not beneficial to S. avenae control in wheat fields. Different measures should be taken to strengthen the control of S. avenae in walnut intercropped wheat fields.

Cephalosporium stripe disease, crop yield and selected soil properties as influenced by straw management in a micro-plot experiment with winter wheat monoculture

Cephalosporium stripe disease, crop yield and selected soil properties as influenced by straw management in a micro-plot experiment with winter wheat monoculture

Increased Soil Organic Carbon Losses Due to Soybean Monoculture in the Argentine Pampas: A Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Agricultural soils can act as a repository for atmospheric carbon and hence mitigate global warming. One of the best management practices that can increase the soil organic carbon (SOC) is the selection of high carbon input crops. Some crops like soybean would lead to SOC decrease due to its low residue production. This is the main crop in the Pampas region of Argentina. The objective of the present study was to determine how soybean monoculture impacts the SOC in the region. Data were collected from 11 long-term field experiments. Results of nine SOC comparisons of soybean monoculture with rotations and seven comparisons of other crop monocultures with rotations were extracted. Meta-analytic methods were used for the analysis. SOC stock in the 0–20 cm layer was 10% lower under monoculture of soybean than under rotations. The average duration of the experiments was 10 years. On the contrary, no differences of the SOC were detected when monocultures of wheat, corn or sunflower were compared with rotations. When the initial and final SOC stocks were compared in each treatment, it was estimated that in nearly all cases there were losses of SOC. The average loss of SOC was 8.1 t ha−1 under soybean monoculture and 3.9 t ha−1 under the corresponding rotations. Consequently, the reviewed experiments indicate losses of SOC due to agriculture in the Pampas that double with soybean monoculture.

The Nitrogen Cycling Key Functional Genes and Related Microbial Bacterial Community α−Diversity Is Determined by Crop Rotation Plans in the Loess Plateau

Soil nitrogen cycling microbial communities and functional gene α−diversity indicate soil nitrogen cycling ecological functions and potentials. Crop rotation plans affect soil nitrogen fractions and these indicators. We sequenced soil samples from four crop rotation plans (fallow, winter wheat monoculture, pea-winter wheat-winter wheat-millet rotation, and corn-wheat-wheat-millet rotation) in a long-term field experiment. We examined how microbial communities and functional gene α−diversity changed with soil nitrogen fractions and how nitrogen fractions regulated them. Planting crops increased the abundance and richness of nitrogen cycling key functional genes and bacterial communities compared with fallow. The abundance and richness correlated positively with nitrogen fractions, while Shannon index did not. The abundance increased with soil total nitrogen (STN) and potential nitrogen mineralization (PNM), while Shannon index showed that nitrogen cycling key functional genes increased and then decreased with increasing STN and PON. Introducing legumes into the rotation improved the α−diversity of nitrogen cycling key functional genes. These results can guide sustainable agriculture in the Loess Plateau and clarify the relationship between nitrogen fractions and nitrogen cycling key functional genes.

Environmental and economic benefits of wheat and chickpea crop rotation in the Mediterranean region of Apulia (Italy)

Wheat plays an essential role in safeguarding global food security. However, its intensive agricultural production, aimed at maximizing crop yields and associated economic benefits, jeopardizes many ecosystem services and the economic stability of farmers. Rotations with leguminous are recognized as a promising strategy in favor of sustainable agriculture. However, not all crop rotations are suitable for promoting sustainability and their implications on agricultural soil and crop quality should be carefully analyzed. This research aims to demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of introducing chickpea into a wheat-based system under Mediterranean pedo-climatic conditions. For this purpose, the crop rotation “wheat-chickpea” was evaluated and compared with the conventional regime (wheat monoculture) by means of life cycle assessment methodology. For this purpose, inventory data (e.g., agrochemical doses, machinery, energy consumption, production yield, among others) was compiled for each crop and cropping system, thus converted into environmental impacts based on two functional units: 1 ha per year and one € of gross margin. Eleven environmental indicators were analyzed, including soil quality and biodiversity loss. Results indicate that chickpea-wheat rotation system offers lower environmental impacts, regardless of the functional unit considered. Global warming (18 %) and freshwater ecotoxicity (20 %) were the categories with the largest reductions. Furthermore, a remarkable increase (96 %) in gross margin was observed with the rotation system, due to the low cost of chickpea cultivation and its higher market price. Nevertheless, proper fertilizer management remains essential to fully attain the environmental benefits of crop rotation with legumes.

Plant facilitation improves carbon production efficiency while reducing nitrogen input in semiarid agroecosystem

It is critical to reduce carbon (C) emission and nitrogen (N) input in agroecosystems under a changing climate. If crop diversification is introduced, interspecific plant–plant interactions as an effective pathway may achieve this goal. However, the related process and its mechanism are poorly understood. A two-year field study was conducted to explore the effects of intercropping systems including soybean-maize, soybean- wheat and maize-wheat on the land equivalent ratio (LER), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), seasonal carbon emission, and soil properties in a typical semiarid environment. Three N rates (N1: 150 kg ha−1, N2: 225 kg ha−1, N3: 300 kg ha−1) were applied. The result indicated that the intercropping with soybean significantly increased system productivity with LER > 1, showing a typical plant–plant facilitation. However, the LER of maize–wheat intercropping was significantly lower than 1, representing interspecific competition. With the increasing N rate, the productivity of monoculture wheat or maize was evidently promoted. Particularly, the productivity under N2 and N3 remained at a similar level due to interspecific facilitation. This trend was mechanically driven by the improved N uptake (NLER > 1) and NUE under the presence of interspecific facilitation. Critically, interspecific facilitation was observed to promote carbon emissions (CE) by 4.0%-6.3%, since root input, microbial activities and the C&N decomposition enzyme activities were significantly enhanced. To say, interspecific facilitation evidently enhanced carbon emission efficiency (Yield/CE) whereas interspecific competition turned to lower it. To sum up, plant facilitation improved crop productivity and carbon emission efficiency by reducing N input. Our findings provided a new insight into the exploration of green solution in terms of reducing emissions and increasing efficiency, as well as lowering N fertilizer application in the natural and agricultural ecosystems.

Effect of Cd toxicity on root morphology, ultrastructure, Cd uptake and accumulation of wheat under intercropping with Solanum nigrum L.

In order to evaluate the effect of intercropping of the hyperaccumulator, Solanum nigrum L. and wheat on the absorption and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in wheat. The experiment was conducted with three replicates, which conducted on four Cd concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60 μmol L−1) in the Hoagland solution and using two planting patterns [monoculture wheat (MW), intercropping wheat and Solanum nigrum L. (IW，IS)]. The results showed that the addition of Cd in the solutions reduced the total root length by 19.08–55.98%, total root area by 12.35–44.48%, and total root volume by 16.01–46.00% of wheat plants. Intercropping with Solanum nigrum L. significantly reduced Cd contents by 28.3–47.2% and Cd accumulations by 10.08–32.43% in the roots of wheat. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the root-tip cells of the monoculture wheat treated with Cd exhibited swollen spheres of intracellular mitochondria, disorderly arranged inner ridges of mitochondria, some damaged mitochondrial membranes, and deformed nuclear membranes. Many dense electron particles in the form of Cd were deposited in the cell gap, and the cell nucleus became smaller or even disappeared. Under the same Cd concentrations, root-tip cells of intercropped wheat showed much less density of electron particles, starch granules, and the damage to the nucleus and nuclear membrane by Cd.These results indicated that intercropping with Solanum nigrum L. reduced the Cd toxicity to wheat roots and decreased Cd uptake and accumulation in both the shoots and roots of the wheat.

Effects of poplar intercropping systems on reducing the concentration of different forms of inorganic nitrogen in the soil profile

AbstractThis study focused on understanding how different spacing arrangements of poplar (Populus deltoides)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) agroforestry systems and the processes of the tree and wheat roots in these systems impact the elimination efficiency of inorganic nitrogen from soil. Three planting systems were tested: a monoculture wheat system (control), a widely spaced wheat–poplar system (PWW) and a narrowly spaced wheat–poplar system (PWN). Soil and root samples were collected in four different soil layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm) at four different sampling sites (PWN: 0, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 m; PWW: 0, 1.5, 3.5, and 7 m from tree row, respectively). The nitrate–nitrogen (), ammonium–nitrogen (), and nitrite–nitrogen () in the soil samples were analyzed to determine the elimination efficiency of the different systems. The results indicated that the concentration and soil accumulation content reduction of inorganic nitrogen in the two intercropping systems, especially in the PWW system, were encouraging compared to those in the control system. The and concentration reductions and poplar fine root length density (FRLD) were higher at the sampling point near the poplar row, especially in surface soil (p &lt; 0.05), but the distribution of the wheat FRLD decreased with soil depth and proximity to the poplar trunk. Furthermore, the poplar and wheat FRLD had significant positive relationships with the concentration reduction of inorganic nitrogen. In conclusion, poplar–agroforestry systems should be considered as an important method for controlling nonpoint pollution from farmland.

SOIL PHYSICO CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, WHEAT GRAIN YIELD AND ECONOMICS OF POPULUS DELTOIDES BASED AGRO FORESTRY SYSTEM

The research was carried out to determine the effect of Populus deltoides trees on the soil physical and chemical properties and grain yield of wheat crop under the agro ecological conditions of Faisalabad (Punjab), Pakistan. Two fields were selected; one with wheat monoculture and the other had boundary trees of Populus deltoides. The average age of the s Populus trees was 5 years. Number of trees was 40 per acre. The average height and diameter at breast height of trees was 12 meters and 42.43 cm respectively. The wheat crop was sown in October, 2020 in both fields and harvested in April, 2021. A quadrate of one meter square was used to collect the data. The quadrate was put at various distances (2-24 meter) from tree stems and the plants growing there were harvested. The grain yield (gm-2) per quadrate was determined with the help of an electric weighing balance. The soil samples were selected from both fields and various chemical and physical properties of soil were determined. The soil pH was 7.32 and 7.95 in wheat monoculture and Populus+wheat field respectively. Total nitrogen was 0.05 and 0.08%in both fields respectively as mentioned above. Organic matter was 0.64 and 0.81 in wheat monoculture and Populus based field respectively. The effect of Populus trees on grain yield of wheat was negative form 2m to 10 meter distance from trees. While from 12m to 24 m distance, wheat grain yield was more or less equal in both fields i.e. with and without trees. Net income was Rs. 67437.69 and Rs. 104781.03 per acre without and with trees, respectively. On the basis of this research, it is concluded that wheat + Poplar is more suitable option for farmers. So farmers should adopt this system to generate more money while keeping the inputs same.

Simultaneous Assessment of Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rain-Fed Chickpea-Durum Wheat Intercropping Systems

It is well known that multiple interactions can occur between nitrogen and water use, depending on climate, soil and crop characteristics, in crop growth and yield development. However, little is known about the simultaneous change in both water and N use efficiency (WUE and NUE) and their possible interactions in cereal–-legume intercropping systems. In order to advance our knowledge on the N and water facilitation mechanisms involved in the intercropping responses of N and water input co-limitations, we investigated, via four experiment years, the simultaneous optimization of water and N-fertilizer inputs, as well as its possible effects on growth, yield, N acquisition, and the NUE and WUE in intercropped species. The results indicated that intercropping increases the leaf area index by more than +0.14 and +1.03 units when compared to durum wheat and chickpea monoculture systems, respectively. This increase is particularly noticeable under higher rainfalls during the crop period (i.e., as can be seen in the 2022, 2020, and 2019 seasons). Moderate N-application enhanced both the grain yield and protein accumulation in the mixed crops by more than 0.22 t ha−1 and 57 kg ha−1, respectively. Conversely, intercropping significantly decreased the mixed grain yield when compared to durum wheat monocultures. Intercropping advantages in terms of biomass (ranged from 1 to 44%) and N-acquisition (2 to 91%) was confirmed in either low- (2021) or high- (2019 and 2022) rainfall growing periods, but only under low and moderate N-applications. Improving N nutrition under both rainfall and drought growth periods was confirmed only for the mixed crops under all applied N-fertilizer doses. Such improvements in growth, N acquisition, and yield quality were most likely achieved by positive interactions (r2 = 0.73, p ≤ 0.001) between the NUE and WUE for the chickpea–wheat intercropping. Thus, 0.62 kg m−3 of WUE promotes a significant increase of 1 kg kg−1 in NUE by mixing chickpea-durum wheat. Rain-fed chickpea-durum wheat intercropping provides a higher performance in growth and yield quality compared to sole cropping systems; this may occur from the simultaneous optimizations of both water and N fertilizer inputs in low-N soil under semiarid conditions.