In China, the abuse of chemical nitrogen(N) fertilizer results in decreasing N use efficiency(NUE), wasting resources and causing serious environmental problems. Cereal-legume intercropping is widely used to enhance crop yield and improve resource use efficiency, especially in Southwest China. To optimize N utilization and increase grain yield, we conducted a two-year field experiment with single-factor randomized block designs of a maize-soybean intercropping system(IMS). Three N rates, NN(no nitrogen application), LN(lower N application: 270 kg N ha–1), and CN(conventional N application: 330 kg N ha–1), and three topdressing distances of LN(LND), e.g., 15 cm(LND1), 30 cm(LND2) and 45 cm(LND3) from maize rows were evaluated. At the beginning seed stage(R5), the leghemoglobin content and nitrogenase activity of LND3 were 1.86 mg plant–1 and 0.14 m L h–1 plant–1, and those of LND1 and LND2 were increased by 31.4 and 24.5%, 6.4 and 32.9% compared with LND3, respectively. The ureide content and N accumulation of soybean organs in LND1 and LND2 were higher than those of LND3. The N uptake, NUE and N agronomy efficiency(NAE) of IMS under CN were 308.3 kg ha–1, 28.5%, and 5.7 kg grain kg–1 N, respectively; however, those of LN were significantly increased by 12.4, 72.5, and 51.6% compared with CN, respectively. The total yield in LND1 and LND2 was increased by 12.3 and 8.3% compared with CN, respectively. Those results suggested that LN with distances of 15–30 cm from the topdressing strip to the maize row was optimal in maize-soybean intercropping. Lower N input with an optimized fertilization location for IMS increased N fixation and N use efficiency without decreasing grain yield.
Maize-soybean relay intercropping is an effective approach to improve the crop yield and nutrient use efficiency,which is widely practiced by farmers in southwest of China.To elucidate the characteristics of different planting patterns on crop nutrient uptake,soil chemical properties,and soil bacteria community in maize-soybean relay intercropping systems,we conducted a field experiment in 2015–2016 with single factor treatments,including monoculture maize(MM),monoculture soybean(MS),maize-soybean relay intercropping(IMS),and fallow(CK).The results showed that the N uptake of maize grain increased in IMS compared with MM.Compared with MS,the yield and uptake of N,P,and K of soybean grain were increased by 25.5,24.4,9.6,and 22.4%in IMS,respectively,while the N and K uptakes in soybean straw were decreased in IMS.The soil total nitrogen,available phosphorus,and soil organic matter contents were significantly higher in IMS than those of the corresponding monocultures and CK.Moreover,the soil protease,soil urease,and soil nitrate reductase activities in IMS were higher than those of the corresponding monocultures and CK.The phyla Proteobacteria,Acidobacteria,Chloroflexi,and Actinobacteria dominated in all treatments.Shannon’s index in IMS was higher than that of the corresponding monocultures and CK.The phylum Proteobacteria proportion was positively correlated with maize soil organic matter and soybean soil total nitrogen content,respectively.These results indicated that the belowground interactions increased the crop nutrient(N and P)uptake and soil bacterial community diversity,both of which contributed to improved soil nutrient management for legume-cereal relay intercropping systems.
为探索玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收的差异特性,揭示减量施N对玉米-大豆套作系统的N高效利用机理。利用15N同位素示踪技术,结合小区套微区多年定位试验,研究了玉米单作(MM)、大豆单作(SS)、玉米-大豆套作(IMS)及不施N(NN)、减量施N(RN:180 kg N/hm2)、常量施N(CN:240 kg N/hm2)下玉米、大豆的生物量、吸N量、N肥利用率及土壤N素含量变化。结果表明,与MM(SS)相比,IMS下玉米茎叶及籽粒的生物量、吸N量降低,15N%丰度及15N吸收量增加,大豆籽粒及植株的生物量、吸N量及15N吸收量显著提高;IMS下玉米、大豆植株的N肥利用率、土壤N贡献率、土壤15N%丰度降低,15N回收率显著增加。施N与不施N相比,显著提高了单、套作下玉米、大豆植株的生物量、吸N量、15N丰度及15N吸收量;RN与CN相比,IMS下,RN的玉米、大豆植株总吸N量提高13.4%和12.4%,N肥利用率提高213.0%和117.5%,土壤总N含量提高12.2%和11.6%,土壤N贡献率降低12.0%和11.2%,玉米植株15N吸收量与15N回收率提高14.4%和52.5%,大豆的则降低57.1%和42.8%,单作与套作的变化规律一致。玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收存在数量及形态差异,减量施N有利于玉米-大豆套作系统对N肥的高效吸收与利用,实现作物持续增产与土壤培肥。
通过田间试验研究了3种施氮水平(RN1:210 kg N·hm^(-2);RN_2:270 kg N·hm^(-2);CN:330 kg N·hm^(-2))与4个施肥距离(与窄行玉米距离,D1:0 cm、D2:15 cm、D3:30 cm、D4:45 cm)对玉米/大豆套作系统增产节肥的影响.结果表明:与CN相比,RN_2下玉米花后的干物质积累量、转移量及对籽粒的贡献率提高1.4%、23.0%、16.0%,玉米穗粒数与单株产量增加1.6%和4.9%;大豆花前的物质积累量、转移量及对籽粒贡献率提高2.1%、37.9%、26.9%,单株粒数与籽粒产量均增加7.3%;RN_2下玉米/大豆套作系统的作物氮素吸收量与氮肥利用率比CN提高5.0%、44.4%,玉米的土壤总氮含量提高4.1%,大豆的则降低0.8%.各施肥距离间,以D2处理效果较好;RN_2下,D2的玉米花后(大豆花前)干物质积累对籽粒贡献率、玉米穗粒数(大豆单株粒数)分别比D1提高57.2%、9.4%,大豆的则比D4提高335.2%、2.4%;D2的玉米/大豆套作系统氮素吸收量及氮肥利用率分别比D1提高15.1%和112.4%,比D4提高21.4%和66.3%;玉米土壤总氮含量D2比D1提高6.6%,大豆土壤总氮含量D2比D4提高16.0%.合理的减量施氮和施肥距离有利于玉米/大豆套作系统下作物干物质向籽粒转运,提高作物的单株粒数、百粒重和产量,促进作物氮素吸收与氮肥高效利用,达到节肥增产的目的.
Optimized nitrogen(N)management can increase N-use efficiency in intercropping systems.Legume-nonlegume intercropping systems can reduce N input by exploiting biological N fixation by legumes.Measurement of N utilization can help in dissecting the mechanisms underlying N uptake and utilization in legume-nonlegume intercropping systems.An experiment was performed with three planting patterns:monoculture maize(MM),monoculture soybean(SS),and maize-soybean relay intercropping(IMS),and three N application levels:zero N(NN),reduced N(RN),and conventional N(CN)to investigate crop N uptake and utilization characteristics.N recovery efficiency and 15N recovery rate of crops were higher under RN than under CN,and those under RN were higher under intercropping than under the corresponding monocultures.Compared with MM,IMS showed a lower soil N-dependent rate(SNDR)in 2012.However,the SNDR of MM rapidly declined from 86.8%in 2012 to 49.4%in 2014,whereas that of IMS declined slowly from 75.4%in 2012 to 69.4%in 2014.The interspecific N competition rate(NCRms)was higher under RN than under CN,and increased yearly.Soybean nodule dry weight and nitrogenase activities were respectively 34.2%and 12.5%higher under intercropping than in monoculture at the beginning seed stage.The amount(Ndfa)and ratio(%Ndfa)of soybean N2 fixation were significantly greater under IS than under SS.In conclusion,N fertilizer was more efficiently used under RN than under CN;in particular,the relay intercropping system promoted N fertilizer utilization in comparison with the corresponding monocultures.An intercropping system helps to maintain soil fertility because interspecific N competition promotes biological N fixation by soybean by reducing N input.Thus,a maize-soybean relay intercropping system with reduced N application is sustainable and environmentally friendly.
