Seedling defoliation of cereal crops increases peanut growth and yield in an intercropping system
Bo Huang,
Xiaojin Zou,
Huasen Xu,
Jiayi Xu,
Huiyu Liu,
Wentao Sun,
Liang Gong,
Shiwei Niu,
Liangshan Feng,
Ning Yang,
Lizhen Zhang,
Zhanxiang Sun
Affiliations
Bo Huang
College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, Liaoning, China; Center of International Cooperation Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
Xiaojin Zou
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Huasen Xu
Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
Jiayi Xu
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Huiyu Liu
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Wentao Sun
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Liang Gong
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Shiwei Niu
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Liangshan Feng
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Ning Yang
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
Lizhen Zhang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
Zhanxiang Sun
Institute of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Resources, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China; Corresponding author.
Intercropping cereals and legumes is practiced widely in the world for improving yields and economic benefits. Shorter legume crops in intercropping are shaded by taller cereals, substantially reducing legume growth and yield. Reducing shade in intercropping by shortening the plant height of cereals by seedling defoliation has been proposed as a practical approach to increase crop yields and land productivity. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of defoliation of cereal crops at seedling stage on the growth and yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercropped with corn (Zea mays L.) or millet (Setaria italica L.). In comparison with non-defoliation controls, defoliation reduced final plant height by 29 cm on average for corn and 18 cm for millet. Photosynthetically active radiation on peanut in intercropping systems with corn or millet intercropping was respectively 27.0% and 22.8% higher than those in controls, significantly improving the light environment of intercropped peanut. Net photosynthetic rates of peanut were on average 25.5% higher in corn and peanut intercropping and 19.6% higher in millet and peanut intercropping than those in non-defoliation controls. Total biomass of intercropped peanut increased owing to increased root growth. Across two years, yield of peanut intercropped with corn was 27.7% and with millet 32.8% higher than those of controls. Defoliation of cereal crops did not affect corn yield but significantly decreased millet yield by 24.5%. Our results suggest that applying seedling defoliation in intercropped corn could increase peanut yield without compromising corn yield in an intercropping system.
