Welcome to Acta Agronomica Sinica,

Acta Agron Sin ›› 2013, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (02): 330-342.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2013.00330

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Potato/Maize Intercropping on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield in Two Potato Varieties

HUANG Cheng-Jian1,2,ZHAO Si-Yi2,WANG Long-Chang1,*,WANG Ji-Chun1,*,ZHAO Yong1,CAI Ye-Mao1,TENG Yan1,YANG Guo-Cai1   

  1. 1 College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University / Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400716, China; 2 Dazhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Sichuan 635000, China
  • Received:2012-05-09 Revised:2012-10-09 Online:2013-02-12 Published:2012-12-11
  • Contact: 王龙昌, E-mail: wanglc2003@163.com; 王季春, E-mail: wchun1963@163.com

Abstract:

The intercropping of potato and maize is widely practiced in China. In the potato/maize system, competition for light is an issue as the leaves of potato and maize become different strata within the canopy. The potato/maize intercropping trials using two potato varieties including Zhongshu 5 (early-maturing variety with erect branches) and Mila (mid-late maturing variety with spread branches) with the sole cropping potato as contro1 were carried out to determine the dynamic changes of LAI, SLW, Chl a+b, Chl a/b ratio, photosynthetical active radiation (PAR), gas exchange attributes in leaves at three position levels at tuber initiation stage and tuber expanding stage and yield. The results indicated that intercropping led to decrease LAI, SLW and Chl a/b ratio and increase Chl a+b. In addition, the gradual decrease in PAR, water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal limitation (Ls=1–Ci/Ca, Ca: ambient CO2 concentration) and the increase in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 (Ci)and transpiration rate (Tr) were observed from tuber initiation stage to tuber expanding stage. There was a continuous signi?cant reduction in PAR, Pn, Gs and Tr from the upper leaves to the middle and lower leaves in all treatments, with a lower reduction under intercropping than under sole cropping. The variations in Pn, Gs, Ci, and Ls indicated the decreased photosynthetic activity in the middle and lower leaves pertaining, to both stomatal and non-stomatal mechanisms. Intercropping also declined Pn in the upper leaves and elevated Pn in the middle and lower leaves. Furthermore, there were higher Chl a+b in vegetative growth stage and tuber initiation stage and lower Chl a+b in tuber expanding stage and starch accumulation stage in Zhongshu 5/maize than in Mira/maize system, with the opposite changing trend for SLW. Higher LAI and Chl a/b ratio at all developmental stages, higher PAR in the upper leaves and lower PAR in the middle and lower leaves were observed, and higher Pn in the middle and lower leaves in Zhongshu 5 than in Mira in intercropping systems but the similar Pn in the upper leaves. In comparison with Mira, there were lower Gs, Ci, and Tr and higher WUE and Ls in leaves at the same position levels in Zhongshu 5. In summary, intercropping led to substantial reduction in tuber yield at harvest time due to the change on the light environment and the photosynthetic characteristics of potato in potato/maize systems. Nonetheless, intercropping deteriorated the light environment for Zhongshu 5/maize system while improved the light environment for Mira/maize system, which led to lower LER in the former (1.24) than in the latter (1.40), showing the stronger intercropping superiority for Mira/maize system in the production.

Key words: Potato, Maize, Intercropping, Monoculture, Leaf position, Photosynthetic Characteristics, Yield

[1]Al-Dalain S A. Effect of intercropping of Zea maize with potato Solanum tuberosum L. on potato growth and on the productivity and land equivalent ratio of potato and Zea maize. Agric J, 2009, 4: 164–170



[2]Yildirima E, Guvenc I. Intercropping based on cauli?ower: more productive, pro?table and highly sustainable. Eur J Agron, 2005, 22: 11–18



[3]He X H, Zhu S S, Wang H N, Xie Y, Sun Y, Gao D, Yang J, Liu L, Li Q X, Zhang S B, Zhao G H, Hu M C, Jiang K M, Li C Y, Zhu Y Y. Crop diversity for ecological disease control in potato and maize. J Resourc Ecol, 2010, 1: 45–50



[4]Dimitrios B, Panayiota P, Aristidis K, Sotiria P, Anestis K, Aspasia E. Weed suppressive effects of maize-legume intercropping in organic farming. Intl J Pest Manag, 2010, 56: 173–181



[5]Dahmardeh M, Ghanbari A, Syahsar B A, Ramrodi M. The role of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) on yield and soil chemical properties. Afric J Agric Res, 2010, 5: 631–636



[6]Resende A L S, Viana A J D, Oliveira R J, Aguiar-Menezes E D, Ribeiro R D D, Ricci M D F, Guerra J G M. Performance of the kale-coriander intercropping in organic cultivation and its influence on the populations of ladybeetles. Hortic Bras, 2010, 28: 41–46



[7]Mushagalusa G N, Ledent J F, Draye X. Shoot and root competition in potato/maize intercropping: effects on growth and yield. Environ Exp Bot, 2008, 64:180–188



[8]Chen Y-X(陈玉香), Zhou D-W(周道玮), Zhang Y-F(张玉芬). Yield and photosynthesis of intercropped maize and alfalfa. Acta Agrest Sin (草地学报), 2004, 12(2):107–112 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[9]Makoi J H J R, Chimphango S B M, Dakora F D. Photosynthesis, water-use efficiency and δ13C of five cowpea genotypes grown in mixed culture and at different densities with sorghum. Photosynthetica, 2010, 48: 143–155



[10]Song Y-X(宋艳霞), Yang W-Y(杨文钰), Li Z-X(李卓玺), Yu X-B(于晓波), Guo K(郭凯), Xiang D-B(向达兵). The effects of shading on photosynthetic and fluorescent characteristics of soybean seedlings under maize-soybean relay cropping. Chin J Oil Crop Sci (中国油料作物学报), 2009, 31(4): 474–479 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[11]Wang Z(王竹), Yang W-Y(杨文钰), Wu Q-L(吴其林). Effects of shading in maize/soybean relay-cropping system on the photosynthetic characteristics and yield of soybean. Acta Agron Sin (作物学报), 2007, 33(9): 1502–1507 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[12]Jiao N-Y(焦念元), Ning T-Y(宁堂原), Zhao C(赵春), Wang Y(王芸), Shi Z-Q(史忠强), Hou L-T(侯连涛), Fu G-Z(付国占), Jiang X-D(江晓东), Li Z-J(李增嘉). Characters of photosynthesis in intercropping system of maize and peanut. Acta Agron Sin (作物学报), 2006, 32(6): 917–923 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[13]Zuo Y M, Zhang F S, Li X L, Cao Y P. Studies on the improvement in iron nutrition of peanut by intercropping with maize on a calcareous soil. Plant Soil, 2000, 220: 13–25



[14]He C-H(何承刚), Huang G-B(黄高宝), Jiang H(姜华). Effect of nitrogen levels on content of chlorophyll and quality of wheat and corn in monocropping and intercropping. Agric Res Arid Areas (干旱地区农业研究), 2004, (22)3: 32–34 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[15]Vos J, Oyarzun P J. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of potato leaves – effects of leaf age, irradiance and leaf water potential. Photosynth Res, 1987, 11: 253–264



[16]Jin S H, Wang P M, Zhao K, Yang Y Q, Yao S, Jiang D A. Characteristics of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in different position leaves at booting stage in rice plants. Rice Sci, 2004, 11: 283–289



[17]Tian Y-C(田永超), Cao W-X(曹卫星), Wang S-H(王绍华), Zhu Y(朱艳). Variation of water and nitrogen contents & photosynthesis at different position leaves of rice under different soil water and nitrogen conditions. Acta Agron Sin (作物学报), 2004, 30(11): 1129–1134 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[18]Busch J, Losch R, Meixner F X, Ammann C. CO2 and H2O gas exchange of a triticale field: I. leaf level porometry and upscaling to canopy level. Phys Chem Earth, 1996, 21: 143–149



[19]Li S-D(李升东), Wang F-H(王法宏), Si J-S(司纪升), Kong L-A(孔令安), Feng B(冯波), Zhang B(张宾), Liu J-J(刘建军), Qin X-S(秦晓胜). Light distribution in wheat population and its effect on leaf photosynthetic rate under raised-bed planting method. Chin J Eco-Agric (中国生态农业学报), 2009, 17(3): 465−468 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[20]Han Q-F(韩清芳), Jia Z-K(贾志宽), Wang J-P(王俊鹏), Wan S-M(万素梅), Yang B-P(杨保平), Dong Z-X(董志新). Study on diurnal photosynthetic characteristics in different alfalfa leaf layers in loess plateau. Acta Agrest Sin (草地学报), 2009, 17(5): 558–563 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[21]Ai X-Z(艾希珍), Zhang Z-X(张振贤), Wang S-H(王绍辉), Cui Z-F(崔志峰). Study on photosynthetic characteristics of different leaf position leaves in ginger. Acta Agric Boreali-Occident Sin (西北农业学报), 1998, 7(2): 101–103 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[22]Dwyer L M, Stewart D W. Effect of leaf age and position on net photosynthetic rates in maize (Zea mays L.). Agric For Meteorol, 1986, 37: 29–46



[23]Zuo Z-P(左振朋), Sun Q-Q(孙庆泉), Dong L-H(董鲁浩), Wang J(王婧), Ma D-C(马登超), Dong S-T(董树亭). Comparison of photosynthetic characteristics of leaves in pop corn, sweet corn, and glutinous corn during the late growing period. Acta Agron Sin (作物学报), 2009, 35(10): 1930−1935 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[24]Arnon D T. Copper enzyme in isolated chloroplasts polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol, 1949, 24: 1–15



[25]Connolly J, Goma H C, Rahim K. The information content of indicators in intercropping research. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 2001, 87: 191–207



[26]Vos J, Van der Putten P E L. Effects of partial shading of the potato plant on photosynthesis of treated leaves, leaf area expansion and allocation of nitrogen and dry matter in component plant parts. Eur J Agron, 2001, 14: 209–220



[27]Valladares F, Niinemets Ü. Shade tolerance, a key plant fearure of complex nature and consequences. Ann Rev Ecol, Evolut System, 2008, 39: 237–257



[28]Yamazaki J, Takahisa S, Emiko M, Yasumaro K. The stoichiometry and antenna size of the two photosystems in marine green algae, Bryopsis maxima and Ulva pertusa, in relation to the light environment of their natural habitat. J Exp Bot, 2005, 56: 1517–1523



[29]Johnston M, Onwueme I C. Effect of shade on photosynthetic pigments in the tropical root crops: yam, taro, tammia, cassva and sweet potato. Exp Agric, 1998, 34: 301–302



[30]Wu Y Y, Zhu Z H. Temperate agroforestry in China. In: Gordon A M, Newman S M, eds. Temperate Agroforestry Systems. Wallingford, UK: CAB international Press, 1997. pp 149–179



[31]Xu D-Q(许大全). Photosynthetic Efficiency (光合作用效率). Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2002. pp 86–89 (in Chinese)



[32]Brodribb T. Dynamics of changing intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) during drought and determination of minimum functional Ci. Plant Physiol, 1996, 111: 179–185



[33]Xu Q(徐强), Cheng Z-H(程智慧), Lu T(卢涛), Xie B-Y(谢宝英). Light interception and utilization of maize-capsicum strip relay intercrop. Chin J Eco-Agric (中国生态农业学报), 2010, 18(5): 969–976 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[34]Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Jensen E S. Evaluating pea and barley cultivars for complementarily in intercropping at different levels of soil N availability. Field Crops Res, 2001, 3: 185–196



[35]Ifenkwe O P, Odurukwe S O. Potato/maize intercropping in the Jos Plateau of Nigeria. Field Crops Res, 1990, 25: 73–82



[36]Singhy B B, Mohan Raj D R, Dashiell K E, Jackai L E N. Advances in Cowpea Research. Hong Kong: Sayce Publishing, Devon, UK, 1997. pp 130–134



[37]Gaafar A M, Salih A A, Luukkanen1 O, El Fadl M A, Kaarakka V. Improving the traditional Acacia senegal-crop system in Sudan: the effect of tree density on water use, gum production and crop yields. Agrofor Syst, 2006, 66: 1–11



[38]Maingi J M, Shisanya C A, Gitonga N M, Hornetz B. Nitrogen fixation by common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in pure and mixed stands in semi-arid south-east Kenya. Eur J Agron, 2001, 14: 1–12



[39]Kuruppuarachchi D S P. Intercropped potato (Solamum spp.): effect of shade on growth and tuber yield in the northwestern regosol belt of Sri Lanka. Field Crops Res, 1990, 25: 61–72

[1] WANG Dan, ZHOU Bao-Yuan, MA Wei, GE Jun-Zhu, DING Zai-Song, LI Cong-Feng, ZHAO Ming. Characteristics of the annual distribution and utilization of climate resource for double maize cropping system in the middle reaches of Yangtze River [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1437-1450.
[2] WANG Wang-Nian, GE Jun-Zhu, YANG Hai-Chang, YIN Fa-Ting, HUANG Tai-Li, KUAI Jie, WANG Jing, WANG Bo, ZHOU Guang-Sheng, FU Ting-Dong. Adaptation of feed crops to saline-alkali soil stress and effect of improving saline-alkali soil [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1451-1462.
[3] YAN Jia-Qian, GU Yi-Biao, XUE Zhang-Yi, ZHOU Tian-Yang, GE Qian-Qian, ZHANG Hao, LIU Li-Jun, WANG Zhi-Qin, GU Jun-Fei, YANG Jian-Chang, ZHOU Zhen-Ling, XU Da-Yong. Different responses of rice cultivars to salt stress and the underlying mechanisms [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1463-1475.
[4] YANG Huan, ZHOU Ying, CHEN Ping, DU Qing, ZHENG Ben-Chuan, PU Tian, WEN Jing, YANG Wen-Yu, YONG Tai-Wen. Effects of nutrient uptake and utilization on yield of maize-legume strip intercropping system [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1476-1487.
[5] CHEN Jing, REN Bai-Zhao, ZHAO Bin, LIU Peng, ZHANG Ji-Wang. Regulation of leaf-spraying glycine betaine on yield formation and antioxidation of summer maize sowed in different dates [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1502-1515.
[6] XU Tian-Jun, ZHANG Yong, ZHAO Jiu-Ran, WANG Rong-Huan, LYU Tian-Fang, LIU Yue-E, CAI Wan-Tao, LIU Hong-Wei, CHEN Chuan-Yong, WANG Yuan-Dong. Canopy structure, photosynthesis, grain filling, and dehydration characteristics of maize varieties suitable for grain mechanical harvesting [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1526-1536.
[7] LI Yi-Jun, LYU Hou-Quan. Effect of agricultural meteorological disasters on the production corn in the Northeast China [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1537-1545.
[8] SHAN Lu-Ying, LI Jun, LI Liang, ZHANG Li, WANG Hao-Qian, GAO Jia-Qi, WU Gang, WU Yu-Hua, ZHANG Xiu-Jie. Development of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) NK603 matrix reference materials [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1059-1070.
[9] WANG Hai-Bo, YING Jing-Wen, HE Li, YE Wen-Xuan, TU Wei, CAI Xing-Kui, SONG Bo-Tao, LIU Jun. Identification of chromosome loss and rearrangement in potato and eggplant somatic hybrids by rDNA and telomere repeats [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1273-1278.
[10] SHI Yan-Yan, MA Zhi-Hua, WU Chun-Hua, ZHOU Yong-Jin, LI Rong. Effects of ridge tillage with film mulching in furrow on photosynthetic characteristics of potato and yield formation in dryland farming [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1288-1297.
[11] PENG Xi-Hong, CHEN Ping, DU Qing, YANG Xue-Li, REN Jun-Bo, ZHENG Ben-Chuan, LUO Kai, XIE Chen, LEI Lu, YONG Tai-Wen, YANG Wen-Yu. Effects of reduced nitrogen application on soil aeration and root nodule growth of relay strip intercropping soybean [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1199-1209.
[12] YAN Xiao-Yu, GUO Wen-Jun, QIN Du-Lin, WANG Shuang-Lei, NIE Jun-Jun, ZHAO Na, QI Jie, SONG Xian-Liang, MAO Li-Li, SUN Xue-Zhen. Effects of cotton stubble return and subsoiling on dry matter accumulation, nutrient uptake, and yield of cotton in coastal saline-alkali soil [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1235-1247.
[13] KE Jian, CHEN Ting-Ting, WU Zhou, ZHU Tie-Zhong, SUN Jie, HE Hai-Bing, YOU Cui-Cui, ZHU De-Quan, WU Li-Quan. Suitable varieties and high-yielding population characteristics of late season rice in the northern margin area of double-cropping rice along the Yangtze River [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 1005-1016.
[14] XU Jing, GAO Jing-Yang, LI Cheng-Cheng, SONG Yun-Xia, DONG Chao-Pei, WANG Zhao, LI Yun-Meng, LUAN Yi-Fan, CHEN Jia-Fa, ZHOU Zi-Jian, WU Jian-Yu. Overexpression of ZmCIPKHT enhances heat tolerance in plant [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 851-859.
[15] LIU Lei, ZHAN Wei-Min, DING Wu-Si, LIU Tong, CUI Lian-Hua, JIANG Liang-Liang, ZHANG Yan-Pei, YANG Jian-Ping. Genetic analysis and molecular characterization of dwarf mutant gad39 in maize [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 886-895.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!