Context or problem

Rotational strip intercropping is a compound planting system using annual intercropping and interannual rotation of intercropped strips. Our previous work showed that the rotational strip intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (RMP) improved crop productivity in comparison with the continuous monoculture of maize (CM) or peanut (CP). However, the effects of RMP on crop physiology and soil properties related to the productivity remain unclear.

Methods

Crop productivity and physiology, soil nutrients, and bacterial communities under RMP were evaluated over six years and compared with CP and CM.

Results

RMP significantly increased the crop productivity, with an average land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.19. RMP increased maize yield by 16.01–21.68% compared with CM, with a partial land equivalent ratio (PLER) of 0.58–0.61. The maize physiological properties were markedly improved as indicated by the increased dry matter (DW) accumulation of the stem, soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) value, and net photosynthetic rate (P_n) under RMP. The contents of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium and total nitrogen were increased after peanut rotation. Microbial community structures were significantly affected by the soil layer and planting modes, and both microbial richness and diversity were significantly reduced in CP compared with RMP. Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas were the dominant genera in the 0–20 cm soil layer and their abundance was positively correlated with the contents of TP and AP. Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, a genus that can break down autotoxins resulting from continuous cropping of peanuts and prevent infection, was the dominant and indicator genus in the 20–40 cm soil layer where direct belowground interaction of maize and peanuts occurs under RMP.

Conclusions

In conclusion, increased productivity in RMP was largely the result of higher photosynthetic production of maize, caused by aboveground interspecific competitive advantage, and the optimization of soil nutrient composition and bacterial communities for peanut, caused by belowground interspecific interactions.

Implications or significance

This study suggested that plant-soil-microbe interactions are key to the high productivity observed in RMP and should be considered in designing cropping systems for sustainable agriculture.

中文翻译：

---

玉米和花生轮作带状间作通过提高作物光合产量和优化土壤养分和细菌群落来提高生产力

上下文或问题

轮作条带间作是采用一年生间作和条带间作年际轮作的复合种植制度。我们之前的工作表明，与玉米 (CM) 或花生 (CP) 的连续单作相比，玉米 ( Zea mays L.) 和花生 ( Arachis hypogaea L.) (RMP) 的轮作条带间作提高了作物生产力。然而，RMP 对与生产力相关的作物生理和土壤特性的影响仍不清楚。

方法

对 RMP 下的作物生产力和生理、土壤养分和细菌群落进行了六年的评估，并与 CP 和 CM 进行了比较。

结果

RMP 显着提高了作物生产力，平均土地当量比 (LER) 为 1.19。与 CM 相比，RMP 使玉米产量提高了 16.01-21.68%，部分土地当量比 (PLER) 为 0.58-0.61。玉米生理特性显着改善，表现为茎干物质 (DW) 积累增加，土壤和植物分析仪发育 (SPAD) 值和净光合速​​率 ( P _n) 下的 RMP。花生轮作后土壤有机碳、速效氮、全磷（TP）、速效磷（AP）、速效钾和全氮含量增加。微生物群落结构受土壤层和种植方式的显着影响，与 RMP 相比，CP 的微生物丰富度和多样性均显着降低。Sphingomonas和Gemmatimonas是0~20 cm土层中的优势属，它们的丰度与TP和AP含量呈正相关。Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia，一种可以分解连续种植花生产生的自毒素并防止感染的属，是 20-40 厘米土层中的优势和指示属，在 RMP 下，玉米和花生在地下直接相互作用。

结论

总之，RMP 生产力的提高主要是由于地上种间竞争优势导致玉米光合产量增加，以及地下种间相互作用导致花生土壤养分组成和细菌群落优化的结果。

影响或意义

这项研究表明，植物-土壤-微生物相互作用是 RMP 中观察到的高生产力的关键，在设计可持续农业的种植系统时应予以考虑。