Journal
AGRONOMY-BASEL
Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/agronomy10030360
Keywords
intercropping; N-15 foliar labeling; root contact; N transfer; N utilization
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation [31471945, 31670446, U1803110]
- Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Department Natural Science Foundation [20180101126JC]
- National Key R&D Program of China-Investigating Mechanism on Leaching, Loss, Pollution and Control of N and P in Agroecosystems [2016YFD0800103]
- Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Department [201801011]
- Jilin Special Program for Key Science and Technology Research [Y8D1161001]
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Belowground nitrogen (N) transfer from legumes to non-legumes provides an important N source for crop yield and N utilization. However, whether root contact facilitates N transfer and the extent to which N transfer contributes to crop productivity and N utilization have not been clarified. In our study, two-year rain shelter experiments were conducted to quantify the effect of root contact on N transfer in a maize/alfalfa intercropping system. N transfer occurred mainly one direction from alfalfa to maize during the growth period. Following the N0 treatment, the amount of N transfer from alfalfa to maize was 204.56 mg pot(-1) with no root barrier and 165.13 mg pot(-1) with a nylon net barrier, accounting for 4.72% and 4.48% of the total N accumulated in maize, respectively. Following the N1 treatment, the amount of N transfer from alfalfa to maize was 197.70 mg pot(-1) with no root barrier and 139.04 mg pot(-1) with a nylon net barrier, accounting for 3.64% and 2.36% of the total N accumulated in the maize, respectively. Furthermore, the amount of N transfer without no root barrier was 1.24-1.42 times higher than that with a nylon net barrier regardless of the level of N addition. Our results highlight the importance and the relevance of root contact for the enhancement of N transfer in a maize/alfalfa intercropping system.
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