Abstract
Little attention has been paid to root distribution in combined perennial legume and annual cereal crops. The main objectives of this study were to explore the regularity of root distribution and the influence on nitrogen (N) acquisition in different alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) intercropping patterns. A three year (2007–2009) field experiment studied four intercropping patterns of alternating alfalfa and corn rows with alfalfa:corn rows sown at 2:2, 3:2, 4:2, and 5:2. Sole crops of corn and alfalfa were used as controls. Roots were sampled over 3 consecutive years by auger sampling method in the prime filling stage of corn from different soil depth, and the root length density (RLD) was used to describe the root spatial distribution of intercropped alfalfa and corn. The results showed that the alfalfa/corn intercropping system had the greater RLD values compared to the sole cropped alfalfa or corn. In addition, the root mass centre of intercropped alfalfa descended into deeper soil layers with advancing stand age, and likewise proliferated laterally towards associated corn rows. Whereas the corn root mass spread at relative shallow soil profile, and also more deployed laterally to neighboring alfalfa root zone. The gap between alfalfa and corn rows was the highest colonized area with greater intermingling and the highest RLD of both species root. The complementary and compatibility of the root spatial distribution of component crops in alfalfa/corn community were the essential cause for better biomass yield.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The alfalfa/corn intercropping system had greater root length density than sole-cropped alfalfa or corn.
- Taxon
- alfalfa/corn
Medicago sativa
Zea mays subsp. mayse1 - Treatment
- alfalfa/corn intercropping systeme1
- Outcome
- RLD valuese1
- Direction
- greatere1
- Comparator
- sole cropped alfalfa or corne1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“The results showed that the alfalfa/corn intercropping system had the greater RLD values compared to the sole cropped alfalfa or corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The root mass centre of intercropped alfalfa descended into deeper soil layers with advancing stand age.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae2
- Treatment
- advancing stand agee2
- Outcome
- root mass centree2
- Direction
- descendede2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“the root mass centre of intercropped alfalfa descended into deeper soil layers with advancing stand age”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropped alfalfa roots proliferated laterally towards the associated corn rows.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Outcome
- proliferated laterallye3
- Qualifier
- towards associated corn rowse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“likewise proliferated laterally towards associated corn rows”
e0“alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) intercropping patterns”
Claim · model-written summary
The corn root mass spread at a relatively shallow soil profile.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse4
- Outcome
- root mass spreade4
- Qualifier
- at relative shallow soil profilee4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Whereas the corn root mass spread at relative shallow soil profile”
Claim · model-written summary
Corn roots were more deployed laterally towards the neighboring alfalfa root zone.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse4
- Outcome
- more deployed laterallye5
- Qualifier
- neighboring alfalfa root zonee5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“more deployed laterally to neighboring alfalfa root zone”
e4“Whereas the corn root mass spread at relative shallow soil profile”
Claim · model-written summary
The gap between alfalfa and corn rows was the most intensively colonized area.
- Taxon
- alfalfa and cornMedicago sativaZea mays subsp. mayse6
- Outcome
- colonized areae6
- Direction
- higheste6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“The gap between alfalfa and corn rows was the highest colonized area with greater intermingling and the highest RLD of both species root”
Claim · model-written summary
Root intermingling between alfalfa and corn was greater in the gap between rows.
- Taxon
- alfalfa and cornMedicago sativaZea mays subsp. mayse6
- Outcome
- interminglinge6
- Direction
- greatere6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“The gap between alfalfa and corn rows was the highest colonized area with greater intermingling and the highest RLD of both species root”
Claim · model-written summary
Root length density of both species was highest in the gap between alfalfa and corn rows.
- Taxon
- alfalfa and cornMedicago sativaZea mays subsp. mayse6
- Outcome
- RLDe6
- Direction
- higheste6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“The gap between alfalfa and corn rows was the highest colonized area with greater intermingling and the highest RLD of both species root”
Claim · model-written summary
Complementary and compatible root distribution of the component crops is the essential cause of better biomass yield in the alfalfa/corn community (author interpretation).
- Taxon
- alfalfa/cornMedicago sativaZea mays subsp. mayse7
- Outcome
- better biomass yielde7
- Qualifier
- complementary and compatibility of the root spatial distributione7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“The complementary and compatibility of the root spatial distribution of component crops in alfalfa/corn community were the essential cause for better biomass yield”
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