Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics
Intercropping and phosphorus application are effective ways to increase crop yield and improve soil quality. However, the effects of intercropping and phosphorus application on rhizosphere soil properties, root morphology, and microbial characteristics are still unclear. This study focuses on the ef...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Rentian Ma Zhiman Zan Chunli Wang Shiwei Zhao Taiji Kou Nianyuan Jiao |
| author_facet | Rentian Ma Zhiman Zan Chunli Wang Shiwei Zhao Taiji Kou Nianyuan Jiao |
| author_sort | Rentian Ma |
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| description | Intercropping and phosphorus application are effective ways to increase crop yield and improve soil quality. However, the effects of intercropping and phosphorus application on rhizosphere soil properties, root morphology, and microbial characteristics are still unclear. This study focuses on the effects of intercropping and phosphorus fertilizer application (180 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup>) on the physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, root morphology, and microbial characteristics of rhizosphere soil in a maize–peanut intercropping field planted for 14 years. The results showed that compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the carbon and nutrient contents. Phosphorus fertilizer application further increased the rhizosphere soil nutrient contents. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the urease and saccharase by 14.00 and 7.16% in rhizosphere soil, and phosphorus application increased the urease, alkaline phosphatase, and saccharase in rhizosphere soil by 13.38%, 9.75%, and 24.20% compared with no phosphorus application. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the root length, root surface area, root volume, and root tip number by 19.17%, 21.57%, 20.74%, and 28.54%, and phosphorus fertilizer application further increased the root length, root surface area, and root volume by 44.66%, 40.20%, and 41.70%. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the Chao index and Shannon index of rhizosphere soil bacteria and fungi by 4.29% and 1.63%, and 27.25% and 7.68%. Intercropping and phosphorus application increased the number of edges and modularity of the network of bacterial and fungal communities. To sum up, the intercropping of maize and peanut improved the nutrient contents and enzyme activity of rhizosphere soil, promoted the growth of the root system, and improved the diversity and connectivity of rhizosphere microbial communities, and the application of phosphate fertilizer further optimized the rhizosphere soil microecological environment. The research results provide a theoretical basis for maintaining the stability and sustainable development of the micro-ecosystem in a maize–peanut intercropping field. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ec4bd5d9861c4e2583023c22a8aaceec2025-08-20T02:24:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-0115491310.3390/agronomy15040913Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community CharacteristicsRentian Ma0Zhiman Zan1Chunli Wang2Shiwei Zhao3Taiji Kou4Nianyuan Jiao5College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaIntercropping and phosphorus application are effective ways to increase crop yield and improve soil quality. However, the effects of intercropping and phosphorus application on rhizosphere soil properties, root morphology, and microbial characteristics are still unclear. This study focuses on the effects of intercropping and phosphorus fertilizer application (180 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup>) on the physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, root morphology, and microbial characteristics of rhizosphere soil in a maize–peanut intercropping field planted for 14 years. The results showed that compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the carbon and nutrient contents. Phosphorus fertilizer application further increased the rhizosphere soil nutrient contents. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the urease and saccharase by 14.00 and 7.16% in rhizosphere soil, and phosphorus application increased the urease, alkaline phosphatase, and saccharase in rhizosphere soil by 13.38%, 9.75%, and 24.20% compared with no phosphorus application. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the root length, root surface area, root volume, and root tip number by 19.17%, 21.57%, 20.74%, and 28.54%, and phosphorus fertilizer application further increased the root length, root surface area, and root volume by 44.66%, 40.20%, and 41.70%. Compared with monoculture, intercropping increased the Chao index and Shannon index of rhizosphere soil bacteria and fungi by 4.29% and 1.63%, and 27.25% and 7.68%. Intercropping and phosphorus application increased the number of edges and modularity of the network of bacterial and fungal communities. To sum up, the intercropping of maize and peanut improved the nutrient contents and enzyme activity of rhizosphere soil, promoted the growth of the root system, and improved the diversity and connectivity of rhizosphere microbial communities, and the application of phosphate fertilizer further optimized the rhizosphere soil microecological environment. The research results provide a theoretical basis for maintaining the stability and sustainable development of the micro-ecosystem in a maize–peanut intercropping field.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/913intercropping systemphosphatic fertilizerrhizosphere soilroot morphological characteristicsenzyme activity |
| spellingShingle | Rentian Ma Zhiman Zan Chunli Wang Shiwei Zhao Taiji Kou Nianyuan Jiao Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics Agronomy intercropping system phosphatic fertilizer rhizosphere soil root morphological characteristics enzyme activity |
| title | Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics |
| title_full | Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics |
| title_short | Effects of Multi-Year Maize–Peanut Intercropping and Phosphorus Application on Rhizosphere Soil Properties and Root Morphological and Microbial Community Characteristics |
| title_sort | effects of multi year maize peanut intercropping and phosphorus application on rhizosphere soil properties and root morphological and microbial community characteristics |
| topic | intercropping system phosphatic fertilizer rhizosphere soil root morphological characteristics enzyme activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/913 |
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