Effects of maize and vetch intercropping on the diversity of macrofauna and mesofauna in arid regions

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00307

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 41-49.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00307

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Effects of maize and vetch intercropping on the diversity of macrofauna and mesofauna in arid regions

Yongzhen Wang¹^,²(), Jiliang Liu¹, Zhibin He¹(), Yilin Feng³, Wenzhi Zhao¹, Jialong Ren⁴, Rong Yang¹

^1.Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 100049，China
^3.Chengdu Institute of Biology，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Chengdu 610213，China
^4.Shanxi Normal University，Taiyuan 030031，China

Received:2025-11-23 Revised:2025-12-16 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-03-09
Contact: Zhibin He

Abstract

Abstract:

The intercropping of maize with green manure is an important cropping system in the arid regions of northwest China， which not only effectively increases crop yields but also enhances soil fauna diversity， thereby improving soil functions. Based on this， the study investigated the diversity of macrofauna and mesofauna in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields during May and July 2023， using pitfall traps and Tullgren methods. The results indicated that：（1） Compared with maize monoculture， maize-vetch intercropping increased the abundance of macrofauna and mesofauna， and their community composition also differed， exhibiting temporal variation across the sampling periods. （2） Maize and vetch intercropping had a significant effect on the composition of the macrofauna community， but a minimal effect on the composition of the mesofauna community. （3） The abundance and taxonomic richness of soil macrofauna in the maize-vetch intercropping field were higher than those in the maize monoculture field in both May and July. Additionally， the taxonomic richness and Shannon-wiener diversity index of soil mesofauna in the maize-vetch intercropping field were significantly higher than those in the maize monoculture field in July. （4） The effect of total nitrogen （TN） on soil macrofauna was significant， and a significant positive linear correlation was observed between the activity density of soil macrofauna and maize yield. In summary， maize-vetch intercropping can increase the abundance of macrofauna and mesofauna and also influence the structure of soil fauna communities， thereby altering the structure and function of soil food webs.

Key words: arid regions, oasis farmland, maize and vetch intercropping, maize monoculture, soil macrofauna and mesofauna

CLC Number:

Yongzhen Wang, Jiliang Liu, Zhibin He, Yilin Feng, Wenzhi Zhao, Jialong Ren, Rong Yang. Effects of maize and vetch intercropping on the diversity of macrofauna and mesofauna in arid regions[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(1): 41-49.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig.1 Relative abundance of macrofauna and mesofauna in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields

Fig.2 NMDS ordination diagram of soil macrofauna and mesofauna communities in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields

Table 1 Two-way ANOVA of sampling period and habitat type on macrofauna and mesofauna diversity

指标	采样时间		生境类型		采样时间*生境类型
指标	F	P	F	P	F	P
大型土壤动物
数量	1.700	0.229	10.003	0.013	0.335	0.579
类群丰富度	0.516	0.493	0.516	0.493	0.516	0.493
多样性指数	5.287	0.051	0.852	0.383	0.026	0.875
中型土壤动物
数量	3.520	0.097	0.367	0.561	0.557	0.477
类群丰富度	3.571	0.095	17.286	0.003	3.571	0.095
多样性指数	6.899	0.030	16.024	0.004	0.000	0.993

Fig.3 Comparison of the abundance， taxonomic richness， and Shannon-Wiener diversity index of soil macrofauna in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields

Fig.4 Mantel analysis of soil macrofauna abundance and environmental factors in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields

Fig.5 Regression relationship between soil macrofauna and crop yield in maize-vetch intercropping and maize monoculture fields

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Effects of maize and vetch intercropping on the diversity of macrofauna and mesofauna in arid regions

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