Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations
Belowground root systems under pasture intercropping exhibit complex interactions, and the root interactions of different intercropping combinations are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this work, two perennial and annual herbages were intercropped in pairs and evaluated at a ratio of 1:1. The...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2223 |
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| author | Xindi Liu Yu Jiao Xiaoyu Zhao Xiaoxu Yu Qingping Zhang Shuo Li Lichao Ma Wei Tang Chao Yang Guofeng Yang Juan Sun Fuhong Miao |
| author_facet | Xindi Liu Yu Jiao Xiaoyu Zhao Xiaoxu Yu Qingping Zhang Shuo Li Lichao Ma Wei Tang Chao Yang Guofeng Yang Juan Sun Fuhong Miao |
| author_sort | Xindi Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Belowground root systems under pasture intercropping exhibit complex interactions, and the root interactions of different intercropping combinations are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this work, two perennial and annual herbages were intercropped in pairs and evaluated at a ratio of 1:1. The root morphology and topological structure differed significantly with intercropping combinations. (1) Compared with other cropping patterns, the mean root diameter (RD) of intercropped alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) and common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa</i> L.) increased notably. The root surface area (RSA), root volume (RV), and mean RD increased significantly when oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.) was intercropped with alfalfa. Similarly, the RSA and RV increased in intercropped oat, intercropping relative to monocropping. (2) The forage topological index of the intercropping system was close to one, which was close to that of the herringbone branching. Additionally, the intercropping system had a lower intensity of underground root competition. The root system of the different forage intercropping combinations tended to transition to dichotomous branching. (3) The correlations between root parameters differed according to forage species. Therefore, different intercropping combinations had different belowground root levels of competitiveness and interactions, thereby changing the resource competition environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:08:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-987b172ce5884bddb586f70c9d3fed01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:08:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-987b172ce5884bddb586f70c9d3fed012023-11-19T09:09:17ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-08-01139222310.3390/agronomy13092223Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping CombinationsXindi Liu0Yu Jiao1Xiaoyu Zhao2Xiaoxu Yu3Qingping Zhang4Shuo Li5Lichao Ma6Wei Tang7Chao Yang8Guofeng Yang9Juan Sun10Fuhong Miao11College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Forestry, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaBelowground root systems under pasture intercropping exhibit complex interactions, and the root interactions of different intercropping combinations are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this work, two perennial and annual herbages were intercropped in pairs and evaluated at a ratio of 1:1. The root morphology and topological structure differed significantly with intercropping combinations. (1) Compared with other cropping patterns, the mean root diameter (RD) of intercropped alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) and common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa</i> L.) increased notably. The root surface area (RSA), root volume (RV), and mean RD increased significantly when oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.) was intercropped with alfalfa. Similarly, the RSA and RV increased in intercropped oat, intercropping relative to monocropping. (2) The forage topological index of the intercropping system was close to one, which was close to that of the herringbone branching. Additionally, the intercropping system had a lower intensity of underground root competition. The root system of the different forage intercropping combinations tended to transition to dichotomous branching. (3) The correlations between root parameters differed according to forage species. Therefore, different intercropping combinations had different belowground root levels of competitiveness and interactions, thereby changing the resource competition environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2223herbage intercroppingroot system architectureroot geometryroot topological indexroot fractal dimension |
| spellingShingle | Xindi Liu Yu Jiao Xiaoyu Zhao Xiaoxu Yu Qingping Zhang Shuo Li Lichao Ma Wei Tang Chao Yang Guofeng Yang Juan Sun Fuhong Miao Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations Agronomy herbage intercropping root system architecture root geometry root topological index root fractal dimension |
| title | Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations |
| title_full | Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations |
| title_fullStr | Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations |
| title_short | Root Architecture of Forage Species Varies with Intercropping Combinations |
| title_sort | root architecture of forage species varies with intercropping combinations |
| topic | herbage intercropping root system architecture root geometry root topological index root fractal dimension |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2223 |
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