Abstract
Maize/soybean relay intercropping system is a popular cultivation system to obtain high yields of both crops with reduced inputs. However, shading by maize decreases the photosynthetically active radiation, reaching the soybean canopy in maize/soybean relay intercropping system, which reduces soybean radiation use efficiency and competitiveness. Here, we reveal that compact maize in maize/soybean relay intercropping system enhances the photosynthetically active radiation transmittance, leaf area index, dry matter production, radiation use efficiency, and competitiveness of soybean and compensates the slight maize yield loss by substantially increasing soybean yield. In this experiment, soybean was relay intercropped with different maize types (SI, spreading maize; SII, semi-compact maize; and SIII, compact maize) in maize/soybean relay intercropping system, and all the relay intercropping treatments were compared with sole cropping systems of soybean and maize. Results revealed that SIII significantly enhanced the soybean radiation use efficiency (by 77%, from 0.35 g MJ−1 in SI to 0.61 g MJ−1 in SIII) and total radiation use efficiency (soybean radiation use efficiency + maize radiation use efficiency) of maize/soybean relay intercropping system (by 5%, from 3.53 g MJ−1 in SI to 3.73 g MJ−1 in SIII). Similarly, SIII improved the competitiveness (by 62%, from 0.58% in SI to 0.94% in SIII) of soybean but reduced the competitiveness (by 38%, from 1.73% in SI to 1.07% in SIII) of maize, which, in turn, considerably increased soybean yield by maintaining maize yield. On average, over the 2 years, in SIII, relay-intercropped soybean produced 89% of the sole soybean yield, and relay-intercropped maize produced 95% of the sole maize yield. Besides, treatment SIII achieved the mean highest land equivalent ratio value of 1.84 in both years. Thus, enhanced radiation use efficiency of soybean, especially during the co-growth period, was the primary factor responsible for the high productivity of the maize/soybean relay intercropping system.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data supporting the findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Ahmed S, Raza M, Zhou T, Hussain S, Khalid M, Feng L, Wasaya A, Iqbal N, Ahmed A, Liu W (2018) Responses of soybean dry matter production, phosphorus accumulation, and seed yield to sowing time under relay intercropping with maize. Agronomy 8:282
Alarcon VJ, Sassenrath GF (2015) Optimizing canopy photosynthetic rate through PAR modeling in cotton (Gossypium spp.) crops. Comput Electron Agric 119:142–152
Awal M, Koshi H, Ikeda T (2006) Radiation interception and use by maize/peanut intercrop canopy. Agric For Meteorol 139:74–83
Babu RC, Nagarajan M (1993) Growth and development of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars under shade in coconut garden. J Agron Crop Sci 171:279–283
Cassman KG, Dobermann A, Walters DT, Yang H (2003) Meeting cereal demand while protecting natural resources and improving environmental quality. Annu Rev Environ Resour 28:315–358
Charles-Edwards D, Lawn R (1984) Light interception by grain legume row crops. Plant Cell Environ 7:247–251
Chen P, Du Q, Liu X, Zhou L, Hussain S, Lei L, Song C, Wang X, Liu W, Yang F (2017) Effects of reduced nitrogen inputs on crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency in a long-term maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system. PLoS One 12:e0184503
Choudhury BJ (2001) Modeling radiation-and carbon-use efficiencies of maize, sorghum, and rice. Agric For Meteorol 106:317–330
Dhima K, Lithourgidis A, Vasilakoglou I, Dordas C (2007) Competition indices of common vetch and cereal intercrops in two seeding ratio. Field Crop Res 100:249–256
Díaz S, Fargione J, Chapin FS III, Tilman D (2006) Biodiversity loss threatens human well-being. PLoS Biol 4:e277
Echarte L, Della Maggiora A, Cerrudo D, Gonzalez V, Abbate P, Cerrudo A, Sadras VO, Calvino P (2011) Yield response to plant density of maize and sunflower intercropped with soybean. Field Crop Res 121:423–429
Elmore R, Jackobs J (1984) Yield and yield components of sorghum and soybeans of varying plant heights when intercropped 1. Agron J 76:561–564
Falster DS, Westoby M (2003) Leaf size and angle vary widely across species: what consequences for light interception? New Phytol 158:509–525
Fan Y, Chen J, Cheng Y, Raza MA, Wu X, Wang Z, Liu Q, Wang R, Wang X, Yong T (2018) Effect of shading and light recovery on the growth, leaf structure, and photosynthetic performance of soybean in a maize-soybean relay-strip intercropping system. PLoS One 13:e0198159
Feng LY, Raza MA, Li ZC, Chen Y, Khalid MHB, Du J, Liu W, Wu X, Song C, Yu L (2018) The influence of light intensity and leaf movement on photosynthesis characteristics and carbon balance of soybean. Front Plant Sci 9:1952
Feng LY, Raza MA, Chen Y, Khalid MHB, Meraj TA, Ahsan F, Fan Y, Du J, Wu X, Song C (2019) Narrow-wide row planting pattern improves the light environment and seed yields of intercrop species in relay intercropping system. PLoS One 14:e0212885
Gao Y, Duan A, Qiu X, Sun J, Zhang J, Liu H, Wang H (2010) Distribution and use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation in strip intercropping of maize and soybean. Agron J 102:1149–1157
Gong X, Ferdinand U, Dang K, Li J, Chen G, Luo Y, Yang P, Feng B (2019): Boosting proso millet yield by altering canopy light distribution in proso millet/mung bean intercropping systems. Crop J
Gou F, van Ittersum MK, Wang G, van der Putten PE, van der Werf W (2016) Yield and yield components of wheat and maize in wheat–maize intercropping in the Netherlands. Eur J Agron 76:17–27
Grant RH (1997) Partitioning of biologically active radiation in plant canopies. Int J Biometeorol 40:26–40
Gregory P, Ingram JS, Andersson R, Betts R, Brovkin V, Chase T, Grace P, Gray A, Hamilton N, Hardy T (2002) Environmental consequences of alternative practices for intensifying crop production. Agric Ecosyst Environ 88:279–290
Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Ambus P, Jensen ES (2001) Interspecific competition, N use and interference with weeds in pea–barley intercropping. Field Crop Res 70:101–109
Kanton R, Dennett M (2008) Radiation capture and use as affected by morphologically contrasting maize/pea in sole and intercropping. West Afr J App Ecol 13:55–66
Keating B, Carberry P (1993) Resource capture and use in intercropping: solar radiation. Field Crop Res 34:273–301
Khalid M, Raza M, Yu H, Sun F, Zhang Y, Lu F, Si L, Iqbal N, Khan I, Fu F (2019) Effect of shade treatments on morphology, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of soybeans (Glycine Max l. Merr.). Appl Ecol Environ Res 17:2551–2569
Lithourgidis A, Vlachostergios D, Dordas C, Damalas C (2011) Dry matter yield, nitrogen content, and competition in pea–cereal intercropping systems. Eur J Agron 34:287–294
Mahallati MN, Koocheki A, Mondani F, Feizi H, Amirmoradi S (2015) Determination of optimal strip width in strip intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Northeast Iran. J Clean Prod 106:343–350
Malézieux E, Crozat Y, Dupraz C, Laurans M, Makowski D, Ozier-Lafontaine H, Rapidel B, De Tourdonnet S, Valantin-Morison M (2009): Mixing plant species in cropping systems: concepts, tools and models: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. Springer, pp. 329-353
Ozier-Lafontaine H, Vercambre G, Tournebize R (1997) Radiation and transpiration partitioning in a maize-sorghum intercrop: test and evaluation of two models. Field Crop Res 49:127–145
Rahman T, Liu X, Hussain S, Ahmed S, Chen G, Yang F, Chen L, Du J, Liu W, Yang W (2017) Water use efficiency and evapotranspiration in maize-soybean relay strip intercrop systems as affected by planting geometries. PLoS One 12:e0178332
Raza M, Feng L, Iqbal N, Manaf A, Khalid M, Wasaya A, Ansar M, Billah M, Yang F, Yang W (2018) Effect of sulphur application on photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of sesame varieties under rainfed conditions. Agronomy 8:149
Raza M, Feng L, Iqbal N, Khan I, Meraj T, Zeng X, Naeem M, Ahmed S, Sattar M, Chen Y (2020) Effects of contrasting shade treatments on the carbon production and antioxidant activities of soybean plants. Funct Plant Biol 47:342–354
Raza MA, Feng LY, Iqbal N, Ahmed M, Chen YK, Khalid MHB, Din AMU, Khan A, Ijaz W, Hussain A (2019a) Growth and development of soybean under changing light environments in relay intercropping system. PeerJ 7:e7262
Raza MA, Feng LY, Khalid MH, Iqbal N, Meraj TA, Hassan MJ, Ahmed S, Chen YK, Feng Y, Wenyu Y (2019b) Optimum leaf excision increases the biomass accumulation and seed yield of maize plants under different planting patterns. Ann Appl Biol 175:1–15
Raza MA, Feng LY, van der Werf W, Cai GR, Khalid MHB, Iqbal N, Hassan MJ, Meraj TA, Naeem M, Khan I (2019c) Narrow-wide-row planting pattern increases the radiation use efficiency and seed yield of intercrop species in relay-intercropping system. Food and Energy Security 8:e170
Raza MA, Feng LY, Wopke VDW, Iqbal N, Khalid MHB, Chen YK, Wasaya A, Ahmed S, AMU D, Khan A (2019d) Maize leaf-removal: a new agronomic approach to increase dry matter, flower number and seed-yield of soybean in maize soybean relay intercropping system. Sci Rep 9:1–13
Raza MA, Feng LY, VDW W, Iqbal N, Khan I, Hassan MJ, Ansar M, Chen YK, Xi ZJ, Shi JY (2019e) Optimum leaf defoliation: a new agronomic approach for increasing nutrient uptake and land equivalent ratio of maize soybean relay intercropping system. Field Crop Res 244:107647
Raza MA, Khalid MHB, Zhang X, Feng LY, Khan I, Hassan MJ, Ahmed M, Ansar M, Chen YK, Fan YF (2019f) Effect of planting patterns on yield, nutrient accumulation and distribution in maize and soybean under relay intercropping systems. Sci Rep 9:4947
Serrano L, Gamon JA, Peñuelas J (2000) Estimation of canopy photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic components from spectral transmittance. Ecology 81:3149–3162
Shen Q, Chu G (2004) Bi-directional nitrogen transfer in an intercropping system of peanut with rice cultivated in aerobic soil. Biol Fertil Soils 40:81–87
Sinclair TR (1972): An evaluation of leaf angle effect on maize photosynthesis and productivity.
Sinoquet H (1995) Estimation of light capture and partitioning in intercropping systems. Ecophysiol Trop Intercropping:79–80
Stewart D, Costa C, Dwyer L, Smith D, Hamilton R, Ma B (2003) Canopy structure, light interception, and photosynthesis in maize. Agron J 95:1465–1474
Thavaprakaash N, Velayudham K, Muthukumar V (2005) Effect of crop geometry, intercropping systems and integrated nutrient management practices on productivity of baby corn (Zea mays L.) based intercropping systems. Res J Agric Biol Sci 1:295–302
Tilman D, Wedin D, Knops J (1996) Productivity and sustainability influenced by biodiversity in grassland ecosystems. Nature 379:718–720
Trenbath B (1974) Biomass productivity of mixtures. Adv Agron 26:177–210
Tsubo M, Walker S (2002) A model of radiation interception and use by a maize–bean intercrop canopy. Agric For Meteorol 110:203–215
Vesala T, Markkanen T, Palva L, Siivola E, Palmroth S, Hari P (2000) Effect of variations of PAR on CO2 exchange estimation for Scots pine. Agric For Meteorol 100:337–347
Wang Z, Yang W, Wu X, Wu Q (2008) Effects of maize plant type and planting width on the early morphological characters and yield of relayplanted soybean. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The Journal of Applied Ecology 19:323–329
Werner C, Ryel RJ, Correia O, Beyschlag W (2001) Structural and functional variability within the canopy and its relevance for carbon gain and stress avoidance. Acta Oecol 22:129–138
Willey R, Rao M (1980) A competitive ratio for quantifying competition between intercrops. Exp Agric 16:117–125
Wu Y, Gong W, Yang W (2017) Shade inhibits leaf size by controlling cell proliferation and enlargement in soybean. Sci Rep 7:9259
Yang F, Wang X, Liao D, Lu F, Gao R, Liu W, Yong T, Wu X, Du J, Liu J (2015) Yield response to different planting geometries in maize–soybean relay strip intercropping systems. Agron J 107:296–304
Yang F, Liao D, Wu X, Gao R, Fan Y, Raza MA, Wang X, Yong T, Liu W, Liu J (2017) Effect of aboveground and belowground interactions on the intercrop yields in maize-soybean relay intercropping systems. Field Crop Res 203:16–23
Yang F, Feng L, Liu Q, Wu X, Fan Y, Raza MA, Cheng Y, Chen J, Wang X, Yong T (2018) Effect of interactions between light intensity and red-to-far-red ratio on the photosynthesis of soybean leaves under shade condition. Environ Exp Bot 150:79–87
Acknowledgements
Muhammad Ali Raza thanks MUHAMMAD (SAW) for enlightening his life.
Funding
The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0300209), the National Nature Science Foundation (31571615), the National Undergraduate Training Program for Innovation (201810626085) and the Program on Industrial Technology System of National Soybean (CARS-04-PS19).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
L.C. conducted the field experiment and collected all the data in both study years. F.Y. and W.Y. conceived the study, secured the funding, and led the project progress. M.A.R. and G.A.S. performed the statistical analysis; M.A.R. was involved in the data interpretation; M.A.R. wrote the whole paper; M.A.R. and G.A.S. made all the figures; M.A.R., I.K., A.M.U.D., G.C., M.A., M.A., S.A., A.M., T.J.K., F.Y., and W.Y. reviewed and revised this research paper.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Muhammad Ali Raza and Liang Cui To be considered as joint first authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raza, M.A., Cui, L., Khan, I. et al. Compact maize canopy improves radiation use efficiency and grain yield of maize/soybean relay intercropping system. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 41135–41148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13541-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13541-1