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Schmutz A, Schöb C. Coadaptation of coexisting plants enhances productivity in an agricultural system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2305517121. [PMID: 38621135 PMCID: PMC11047107 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305517121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing crops in more diverse crop systems (i.e., intercropping) is one way to produce food more sustainably. Even though intercropping, compared to average monocultures, is generally more productive, the full yield potential of intercropping might not yet have been achieved as modern crop cultivars are bred to be grown in monoculture. Breeding plants for more familiarity in mixtures, i.e., plants that are adapted to more diverse communities (i.e., adaptation) or even to coexist with each other (i.e., coadaptation) might have the potential to sustainably enhance productivity. In this study, the productivity benefits of familiarity through evolutionary adaptation and coevolutionary coadaptation were disentangled in a crop system through an extensive common garden experiment. Furthermore, evolutionary and coevolutionary effects on species-level and community-level productivity were linked to corresponding changes in functional traits. We found evidence for higher productivity and trait convergence with increasing familiarity with the plant communities. Furthermore, our results provide evidence for the coevolution of plants in mixtures leading to higher productivity of coadapted species. However, with the functional traits measured in our study, we could not fully explain the productivity benefits found upon coevolution. Our study investigated coevolution among randomly interacting plants and was able to demonstrate that coadaptation through coevolution of coexisting species in mixtures occurs and promotes ecosystem functioning (i.e., higher productivity). This result is particularly relevant for the diversification of agricultural and forest ecosystems, demonstrating the added value of artificially selecting plants for the communities they are familiar with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schmutz
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schöb
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092Zurich, Switzerland
- Área Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
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Guerchi A, Mnafgui W, Jabri C, Merghni M, Sifaoui K, Mahjoub A, Ludidi N, Badri M. Improving productivity and soil fertility in Medicago sativa and Hordeum marinum through intercropping under saline conditions. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:158. [PMID: 38429693 PMCID: PMC10905945 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intercropping is an agriculture system used to enhance the efficiency of resource utilization and maximize crop yield grown under environmental stress such as salinity. Nevertheless, the impact of intercropping forage legumes with annual cereals on soil salinity remains unexplored. This research aimed to propose an intercropping system with alfalfa (Medicago sativa)/sea barley (Hordeum marinum) to explore its potential effects on plant productivity, nutrient uptake, and soil salinity. METHODS The experiment involved three harvests of alfalfa and Hordeum marinum conducted under three cropping systems (sole, mixed, parallel) and subjected to salinity treatments (0 and 150 mM NaCl). Agronomical traits, nutrient uptake, and soil properties were analyzed. RESULTS revealed that the variation in the measured traits in both species was influenced by the cultivation mode, treatment, and the interaction between cultivation mode and treatment. The cultivation had the most significant impact. Moreover, the mixed culture (MC) significantly enhanced the H. marinum and M. sativa productivity increasing biomass yield and development growth under salinity compared to other systems, especially at the second harvest. Furthermore, both intercropping systems alleviated the nutrient uptake under salt stress, as noted by the highest levels of K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios compared to monoculture. However, the intercropping mode reduced the pH and the electroconductivity (CEC) of the salt soil and increased the percentage of organic matter and the total carbon mostly with the MC system. CONCLUSIONS Intercropped alfalfa and sea barely could mitigate the soil salinity, improve their yield productivity, and enhance nutrient uptake. Based on these findings, we suggest implementing the mixed-culture system for both target crops in arid and semi-arid regions, which further promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Guerchi
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis ElManar, Campus Universitaire El-Manar, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia
| | - Wiem Mnafgui
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia
| | - Cheima Jabri
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia
| | - Meriem Merghni
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia
| | - Kalthoum Sifaoui
- Direction des Sols, INRAT, Rue Hedi Karray, Menzah, 1004, Tunisia
| | - Asma Mahjoub
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia
| | - Ndiko Ludidi
- Plant Stress Tolerance Laboratory, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X112831, Mbombela, 1200, South Africa
- DSI -NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, 7530, South Africa
| | - Mounawer Badri
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, Hammam-Lif, 2050, Tunisia.
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Andersen IKL, Fomsgaard IS, Rasmussen J. Intercropping of Narrow-Leafed Lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius L.) and Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) Affects the Flavonoid Composition of Both Crops. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:108-115. [PMID: 38146912 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a common cereal crop in agricultural production and is often included in legume-cereal intercropping. Flavonoids, a major class of secondary metabolites found in barley, are involved in plant defense and protection. However, the effect of intercropping on barley flavonoids remains unknown. Herein, an intercropping system involving barley and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) was studied. Intercropping increased the level of luteolin in lupin roots. Lupin-barley intercropping considerably increased genistein, rutin, and apigenin in barley shoots. Genistein and apigenin were also detected in intercropped barley roots and rhizosphere soil. The three flavonoids have been reported as defense compounds, suggesting that lupin triggers a defense response in barley to strengthen its survival ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida K L Andersen
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsoegsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Inge S Fomsgaard
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsoegsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Jim Rasmussen
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Raza MA, Din AMU, Zhiqi W, Gul H, Ur Rehman S, Bukhari B, Haider I, Rahman MHU, Liang X, Luo S, El Sabagh A, Qin R, Zhongming M. Spatial differences influence nitrogen uptake, grain yield, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping systems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16916. [PMID: 37805552 PMCID: PMC10560251 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43288-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cereal/legume intercropping is becoming a popular production strategy for higher crop yields and net profits with reduced inputs and environmental impact. However, the effects of different spatial arrangements on the growth, grain yield, nitrogen uptake, and land-use advantage of wheat/soybean relay intercropping are still unclear, particularly under arid irrigated conditions. Therefore, in a three-year field study from 2018 to 2021, soybean was relay intercropped with wheat in different crop configurations (0.9 m, narrow strips; 1.8 m, medium strips; and 2.7 m, wide strips), and the results of intercropping systems were compared with their sole systems. Results revealed that intercrops with wide strips outperformed the narrow and medium strips, when the objective was to obtain higher total leaf area, dry matter, nitrogen uptake, and grain yield on a given land area due to reduced interspecific competition between intercrops. Specifically, at maturity, wide strips increased the dry matter accumulation (37% and 58%) and its distribution in roots (37% and 55%), straw (40% and 61%), and grains (30% and 46%) of wheat and soybean, respectively, compared to narrow strips. This enhanced dry matter in wide strips improved the soybean's competitive ability (by 17%) but reduced the wheat's competitive ability (by 12%) compared with narrow strips. Noticeably, all intercropping systems accumulated a significantly higher amount of nitrogen than sole systems, revealing that wheat/soybean relay intercropping requires fewer anthropogenic inputs (nitrogen) and exerts less pressure on the ecosystem than sole systems. Overall, in wide strips, intercropped wheat and soybean achieved 62% and 71% of sole wheat and soybean yield, respectively, which increased the greater total system yield (by 19%), total land equivalent ratio (by 24%), and net profit (by 34%) of wide strips compared to narrow strips. Our study, therefore, implies that the growth parameters, grain yields, nutrient accumulation, and land-use advantage of intercrop species could be improved with the proper spatial arrangement in cereal/legume intercropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Raza
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Atta Mohi Ud Din
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Wang Zhiqi
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hina Gul
- National Center for Industrial Biotechnology, Arid Agricultural University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sana Ur Rehman
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Birra Bukhari
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Imran Haider
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | | | - Xue Liang
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Ayman El Sabagh
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, Turkey
| | - Ruijun Qin
- Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.
| | - Ma Zhongming
- Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
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Singh A, Schöb C, Iannetta PPM. Nitrogen fixation by common beans in crop mixtures is influenced by growth rate of associated species. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:253. [PMID: 37183263 PMCID: PMC10184335 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and facilitate N availability to their companion plants in crop mixtures. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of legumes in intercrops varies largely with the identity of the legume species. The aim of our study was to understand whether BNF and concentration of plant nutrients by common bean is influenced by the identity of the companion plant species in crop mixtures. In this greenhouse pot study, common beans were cultivated with another legume (chickpea) and a cereal (Sorghum). We compared BNF, crop biomass and nutrient assimilation of all plant species grown in monocultures with plants grown in crop mixtures. RESULTS We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF, and to potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures. The BNF of chickpeas however, was enhanced when grown in mixtures. Furthermore, biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans; suggesting competitive effects of beans on these plants. Concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in beans was higher when grown with chickpeas than with Sorghum. CONCLUSIONS It is generally assumed that legumes benefit their companion plant species. Our study highlights the contrary and shows that the specific benefits of cereal-legume mixtures are dependent on the growth rate of the species concerned. We further highlight that the potential of legume-legume mixtures is currently undervalued and may play a strong role in increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Agricultural Ecology Group, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of International Cooperation, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Frick, Switzerland.
| | - Christian Schöb
- Agricultural Ecology Group, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pietro P M Iannetta
- Department of Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
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Stefan L, Engbersen N, Schöb C. Using spatially-explicit plant competition models to optimise crop productivity in intercropped systems. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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