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Resource complementarity index of 15 N (a) and Cs (b) affected by intercropping (Winter rye-Alfalfa, Fodder radish-Alfalfa and Winter wheat-Curly dock) and soil depth (1.0 and 2.5 m). Small and capital letters indicate significant differences between intercropping and soil depth, respectively (Tukey HSD; P≤0.05). Log-transformed variables used were back-transformed and estimates and SE are shown here (n=6).
Source publication
Little is known of how the deep root systems of perennial crops contribute to deeper and better resource use when intercropped with annuals in arable fields. Therefore, we aimed at measuring the capacity of perennial deep roots, alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and curly dock ( Rumex crispus L.) to access the nutrient source located under the neighbor...
Similar publications
Little is known how the deep root systems of perennial crops contribute to deeper and better resource use when intercropped with annuals in arable fields. Therefore, we aimed at measuring the capacity of deep-rooted perennials, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) to access nutrients located under neighboring annuals at 1....
Citations
... They concluded that competition among plant roots in species-rich communities may improve rhizosphere soil carbon storage, the composition of soil aggregate-size classes, and nutrients. Intercropping with perennial crops has also been shown to benefit soil functions, such as nutrient acquisition, as well as microbial abundance and diversity (140)(141)(142). ...
Phytotechnology has traditionally been considered as a tool to remediate contaminated soils. While phytotechnology has been generally defined as the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving plants, the practical applications go far beyond restoring contaminated land. This review aims to broaden the way we think about phytotechnologies while highlighting how these living technologies can restore, conserve and regenerate the multiple functions and ecosystem services provided by the soil, particularly in the context of agroecosystems. At first, the main problems of soil degradation in agroecosystems are shortly underlined. Subsequently, the importance of plants and their living roots as engines of restoration are reviewed. This paper demonstrates the importance of root traits and functions for soil restoration. It also demonstrates that plant and root diversity together with perenniality are key component of an efficient soil restoration process. Then, a phytotechnology toolbox which includes three pillars for agroecosystems restoration is presented. The three pillars are agricultural practices and land management (1), rhizosphere engineering (2) and ecological intensification (3). This paper also highlights the importance of developing targeted phytotechnology-based restoration strategies developed from root functions and knowledge of rhizosphere processes. More work is needed to evaluate the potential benefits of incorporating phytotechnology-based restoration strategies in the context of grain or vegetable crop productions as most of the studies for agroecosystem restoration strategies were intended to mimic natural prairies.
