Intercropping Systems Modify Desert Plant-Associated Microbial Communities and Weaken Host Effects in a Hyper-Arid Desert.

ABSTRACT: Intercropping is an important practice in promoting plant diversity and productivity. Compared to the accumulated understanding of the legume/non-legume crop intercrops, very little is known about the effect of this practice when applied to native species on soil microbial communities in the desert ecosystem. Therefore, in the present study, bulk soil and rhizosphere microbial communities in the 2-year Alhagi sparsifolia (legume)/Karelinia caspica (non-legume) monoculture vs. intercropping systems were characterized under field conditions. Our result revealed that plant species identities caused a significant effect on microbial community composition in monocultures but not in intercropping systems. Monoculture weakened the rhizosphere effect on fungal richness. The compositi

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8595258 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature