Wheat/Fababean Intercropping Enhances Growth Performance and Yield

A research team led by Prof. SHAO Hua from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyzed the mechanisms that enhance growth performance in wheat/fababean intercropping systems. Their work was published in Rhizosphere.

The researchers used advanced techniques, such as Illumina Mi-Sequencing and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze microbial community composition and examine low molecular weight organic acids and their interactions.

They found that intercropping wheat with fababean significantly enhances the growth performance and crop yield of both species. Notably, fababean roots that either freely interacted with or semi-adhered to wheat roots exhibited a high abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and low molecular weight organic acids. The study demonstrates that intercropping effectively revitalizes beneficial microbial communities and bioactive organic compounds in the root zones.

"Intercropping fababean with cereals may serve as an efficient system for improving soil fertility and crop yield in agricultural practices," said Dr. Yasir Arafat, first author of the study.

This study offers valuable insights into the role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and presents a promising cropping system to enhance soil fertility and nutrient availability in agricultural practices.

Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2024.101007

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn