Root foraging elicits niche complementarity-dependent yield advantage in the ancient 'three sisters' (maize/bean/squash) polyculture.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Since ancient times in the Americas, maize, bean and squash have been grown together in a polyculture known as the 'three sisters'. This polyculture and its maize/bean variant have greater yield than component monocultures on a land-equivalent basis. This study shows that below-ground niche complementarity may contribute to this yield advantage.

Methods

Monocultures and polycultures of maize, bean and squash were grown in two seasons in field plots differing in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Root growth patterns of individual crops and entire polycultures were determined using a modified DNA-based technique to discriminate roots of different species.

Key results

The maize/bean/squash and maize/bean polycultures had greater yield and

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4416130 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature