The effect of maize||soybean intercropping on root morphology on the Loess Plateau

It is of great significance to understand the mechanism of high yield and high efficiency of intercropping system, by studying the effect of intercropping patterns on soil water content and root morphology in dryland rain-fed regions. Maize (Zhengdan 958, M1 and Yuyu 22, M2) and soybean varieties (Zhonghuang 24, S1 and Zhonghuang 13, S2) were intercropped at 2 ꞉ 2 row proportion (M1S1, M1S2, M2S1, M2S2) to analyze crop yield, root morphology and soil water content under different maize-soybean intercropping systems. The results showed that: The yield under M1S1 intercropping was higher than other intercropping systems. The root surface area density, root volume density and root weight density of maize under M1S1intercropping were higher by 40.6%, 62.4% and 71.9% than those of M2S1 intercropping. The root surface area density and root volume density of soybean under M1S1 intercropping increased by 39.7% and 29.4% compared with M1S2 intercropping. The increase in root surface area density, root volume density, root weight density by soil water content of maize and soybean under M1S1 intercropping was by 1.5 ~ 2.9, 3.1 ~ 3.3, 3.3 ~ 4.9, and 1.1 ~ 1.4, 1.5 ~ 2.4, 1.3 ~ 2.0 times greater than those in M1S2, M2S1, and M2S2. Therefore, M1S1 intercropping could effectively increase the growth rate of root morphology, which is beneficial for crop growth and increased yield of crops in dryland areas.