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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 219-228.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2020.00019

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Rhizosphere soil nutrients, enzyme activities and microbial community characteristics in legume-cereal intercropping system in Northwest China

Zhao Yajiao, Liu Xiaojing, Wu Yong, Tong Changchun   

  1. College of Pratacultural Science/MOE Key Laboratory Pratacultural Ecosystem/Pratacultural Engineering Laboratory of Gansu Province/Sino-US Center for Grazingland Ecosystem Sustainability, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2020-01-03 Revised:2020-04-01 Online:2020-05-20 Published:2020-06-09

Abstract: The semi-arid area of Northwest China is characterized by fragile ecosystem and serious nutrient loss of soil. Excessive fertilization and continuous cropping will lead to soil degradation. In order to meet the needs of forage and improve the soil conditions in local area, the effects of rhizosphere soil nutrient, biological activity and stability were studied in the continuous alfalfa/maize intercropping. The results showed that pH of rhizosphere soil decreased greatly in intercropping than that in monoculture. The contents of soil organic matter (SOM), available phosphorus (AP) and available kalium (AK) in rhizosphere soil of intercropping maize were significantly higher than that of monoculture maize. Alkaline phosphatase activity of intercropping alfalfa was significantly higher than that of monoculture alfalfa, while catalase activity was the opposite in the rhizosphere soil. The activities of urease, alkaline phosphatase, catalase and invertase in maize intercropping were significantly higher than that in monoculture maize. Bacteria/fungi value in intercropping maize was significantly higher than that in monoculture maize. Quantity of bacteria and actinomycetes and sequence reads of bacteria in maize intercropping was significantly higher than that in monoculture maize. Bacteroides and Verruciformes in intercropping alfalfa were significantly higher than those in monoculture alfalfa, while Campylobacter and Actinomycetes in intercropping maize were significantly higher than those in monoculture maize. Soil enzymes and bacteria quantity were extremely significant negative correlated with pH, but extremely significant positive correlated with SOM, total nitrogen (TN) and available nitrogen (AN). Bacteroides was extremely significant negative correlated with pH and extremely significant positive correlated with SOM, AN and AP. Acidobacteria and Verruciforme were extremely significant positive correlated with pH, but extremely significant negative correlated with SOM, NA and AK. In conclusion, alfalfa/maize intercropping can reduce the alkaline condition and microbial environment of rhizosphere soil, and improve the nutrient of maize rhizosphere soil. Therefore, alfalfa/maize intercropping is an effective measure to prevent soil degradation and improve soil stability in the semi-arid area of Northwest China.

Key words: intercropping, soil nutrients, soil enzymes, bacterial community

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