Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
Published on: May 10, 2020
Maize and soybean intercropping enhanced soil nutrient availability and crop adaptability under simulated nitrogen
Jidong Liao1,2,3, Meijie Kuang1,2, Yuhao Deng1,2
1Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
As a significant global atmospheric pollution issue, excessive nitrogen (N) deposition harms plant and soil. Meanwhile, the maize-soybean intercropping is a popular farming system that improves soil fertility and crop yield. Nonetheless, research on the response of maize-soybean intercropping to N deposition remains scarce. This research examined the response of maize and soybean in monoculture and the two-crop intercropping system to different N deposition levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg hm-2 yr-1).
Results:
The results showed that increased N deposition reduced chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and root growth in maize and soybean. At the same time, it limited soil nutrient accumulation and decreased soil microbial biomass carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents (abbreviated as MBC, MBN and MBP, respectively). Relative to monoculture, intercropping increased maize and soybean chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and improved root morphology under 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1 N deposition conditions. Under 100 and 150 kg N ha-1 yr-1 N deposition levels, maize and soybean root C and N contents increased. Additionally, in the range of 0-200 kg N ha-1 yr-1 N deposition, intercropping increased soil MBP, available K and P content. Intercropping reduced the ratio of soil N/P under all N deposition levels.
Conclusion:
The intercropping system effectively mitigated the adverse effects of N deposition on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in maize and soybean, improved the availability of main soil nutrients, and enhanced root growth in soybean. The findings of this study provide support for sustainable agricultural development. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
More Related Videos
07:45An Optimized Rhizobox Protocol to Visualize Root Growth and Responsiveness to Localized Nutrients
Published on: October 22, 2018
10:29Calibrated Passive Sampling - Multi-plot Field Measurements of NH3 Emissions with a Combination of Dynamic Tube Method and Passive Samplers
Published on: March 21, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss