The enhancing effect of intercropping sugar beet with chicory on the deep root growth and nutrient uptake
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The enhancing effect of intercropping sugar beet with chicory on the deep root growth and nutrient uptake. / Czaban, Weronika; Han, Eusun; Lund, Ole Søgaard; Stokholm, Michaela Schiller; Jensen, Signe Marie; Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian.
In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 347, 108360, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - The enhancing effect of intercropping sugar beet with chicory on the deep root growth and nutrient uptake
AU - Czaban, Weronika
AU - Han, Eusun
AU - Lund, Ole Søgaard
AU - Stokholm, Michaela Schiller
AU - Jensen, Signe Marie
AU - Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Crops with deeper rooting is an emerging tool for better exploitation of soil resources. However, there is a need for more in-depth understanding on how the increased rooting depth may be achieved. In this study a novel approach for obtaining deeper rooting has been proposed. Crops with assumed similar capacity for subsoil exploration: sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) were intercropped. Repeated measurements of biomass, deep root growth, and nutrient uptake were conducted to monitor plant competitive dynamics in the intercrop and sole crops. It was found that the intercrop positively affected biomass production with Land Equivalent Ratio close to or greater than 1 (0.99 – 1.14). Similarly, the strongest root growth over time was observed for the intercrop (from 98 ± 48 to 304 ± 28 cm depth). Moreover, the effect from the interspecific interactions in the intercrop varied over time. In the first half of the season yield advantage and the observed enhanced contribution to the uptake of N, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Na in the intercrop were driven by the sugar beet. Later in the growing season, yield advantage, deep root growth, and contribution to the uptake of S, Fe, Cu, and Al in the intercrop were driven by the chicory. This has also been confirmed by the root quantification analysis, which showed that in the end of the season intercrop consisted of 84 % and 98 % roots from the chicory at 1 and 2.5 m depth, respectively. This study concluded that intercropping two crops with similar root characteristics, sugar beet and chicory, can still lead to complementary interactions showing potential for efficient deep soil exploration by roots and yield advantage in comparison with the sole crops.
AB - Crops with deeper rooting is an emerging tool for better exploitation of soil resources. However, there is a need for more in-depth understanding on how the increased rooting depth may be achieved. In this study a novel approach for obtaining deeper rooting has been proposed. Crops with assumed similar capacity for subsoil exploration: sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) were intercropped. Repeated measurements of biomass, deep root growth, and nutrient uptake were conducted to monitor plant competitive dynamics in the intercrop and sole crops. It was found that the intercrop positively affected biomass production with Land Equivalent Ratio close to or greater than 1 (0.99 – 1.14). Similarly, the strongest root growth over time was observed for the intercrop (from 98 ± 48 to 304 ± 28 cm depth). Moreover, the effect from the interspecific interactions in the intercrop varied over time. In the first half of the season yield advantage and the observed enhanced contribution to the uptake of N, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Na in the intercrop were driven by the sugar beet. Later in the growing season, yield advantage, deep root growth, and contribution to the uptake of S, Fe, Cu, and Al in the intercrop were driven by the chicory. This has also been confirmed by the root quantification analysis, which showed that in the end of the season intercrop consisted of 84 % and 98 % roots from the chicory at 1 and 2.5 m depth, respectively. This study concluded that intercropping two crops with similar root characteristics, sugar beet and chicory, can still lead to complementary interactions showing potential for efficient deep soil exploration by roots and yield advantage in comparison with the sole crops.
KW - Chicory
KW - Deep roots
KW - Intercropping
KW - Nutrient uptake
KW - Sugar beet
U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2023.108360
DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2023.108360
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85146601371
VL - 347
JO - Applied Soil Ecology
JF - Applied Soil Ecology
SN - 0929-1393
M1 - 108360
ER -
ID: 348242115