Border row effects improved the spatial distributions of maize and peanut roots in an intercropping system, associated with improved yield.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Border row effects impact the ecosystem functions of intercropping systems, with high direct interactions between neighboring row crops in light, water, and nutrients. However, previous studies have mostly focused on aboveground, whereas the effects of intercropping on the spatial distribution of the root system are poorly understood. Field experiments and planting box experiments were combined to explore the yield, dry matter accumulation, and spatial distribution of root morphological indexes, such as root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD), specific root length (SRL), and root diameter (RD), of maize and peanut and interspecific interactions at different soil depths in an intercropping system.

Results

In the field experiments, the yield of i

SUBMITTER: Dong Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11233825 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature