Effects of intercropping systems of trees with soybean on soil physicochemical properties in juvenile plantations

Abstract

The intercropping system of tree with soybean in juvenile plantations, as a short-term practice, was applied at Lao Shan Experimental Station in Mao’er Shan Forest of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. The larch (Larix gmelinii)/soybean (Glycine max.) and ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) intercropping systems were studied in the field to assess the effects of the intercropping on soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that soil physical properties were improved after soybean intercropping with larch and ash in one growing season. The soil bulk density in larch/soybean and ash/soybean systems was 1.112 g·cm⁻³ and 1.058 g·cm⁻³, respectively, which was lower than that in the pure larch or ash plantation without intercropping. The total soil porosity also increased after intercropping. The organic matter amount in larch/soybean system was 1.77 times higher than that in the pure larch plantation, and it was 1.09 times higher in ash/soybean system than that in the pure ash plantation. Contents of total nitrogen and hydrolyzable nitrogen in larch/soybean system were 4.2% and 53.0% higher than those in the pure larch stand. Total nitrogen and hydrolyzable nitrogen contents in ash/soybean system were 75.5% and 3.3% higher than those in the pure ash plantation. Total phosphorus content decreased after intercropping, while change of available phosphorus showed an increasing trend. Total potassium and available potassium contents in the larch/soybean system were 0.6% and 17.5% higher than those in the pure larch stand. Total potassium and available potassium contents in the ash/soybean system were 56.4% and 21.8% higher than those in the pure ash plantation.

Keywords

Intercropping systems / Soil nutrient content / Soil physicochemical properties / larch/soybean intercropping system / ash/soybean intercropping system

References

[1] Alene S.E., Grimshaw H.M., Parkinson J.A. et al. Chemical analysis of ecological materials [M], 1974 New York: John Wiley and Sons 52

[2] Bao S. Methods of soil agricultural analysis [M], 2000 Beijing: China Agricultural Publishing House 101-103.

[3] Barber, S.A. Soil nutrient bioavailability: A mechanistic approach [M]. New York: John Willey and Sons., p243.

[4] Blakemore L.C., Searle P.L., Daly B.K. Methods for the chemical analysis of soils [R] New Zealand Soil Bureau Scientific Report 80, 1987 New Zealand, Lower Hutt: New Zealand Society of Soil Science 103

[5] Burger J.A., Kelting D.L. Using soil quality indicators to assess forest stand management [J]. For. Ecol. Manage, 1999, 122: 155-156.

[6] Butterfield J. Cannell M.G.R., Malcolm D.C., Robertson P.A. Effect of mixed-species trees planting on the distribution of soil invertebrates [C] The Ecology of Mixed-species Stands of Trees, 1993 Oxford: Blackwell 255-265.

[7] Chen X., Guo Q., Wang Z. Physical and chemical properties of soils in larch and larch-juglans mandshurica mixture stands [J]. Journal of Northeast Forestry University, 1991, 19(3): 258-274.

[8] Cheng D. Resource microbiology [M], 1994 Harbin: Northeast Forestry University Press 32

[9] Guan J. Experiment course of forestry soil [M], 1988 Harbin: Northeast Foretry University Press 57

[10] Haggar J.P. The effect on land P dynamics of introducing legume trees to tropical annual cropping system [D], 1991 United Kingdom: University of Cambridge 205

[11] Harris R.F., Karlen D.L., Mulla D.J. Doran J.W., Jones A.J. A conceptual framework for assessment and management of soil quality and health [C] Methods for Assessing Soil Quality, 1996 USA: Soil Society of America, Special Publication 61-82.

[12] Henderson, G.S. 1995. Soil organic matter: a link between forest management and productivity [C]. In: McFee, W.W., Kelly, J.M. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8^th North American Forest Soils Conference on Carbon Forms and Functions in Forest Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Madison, WI, pp.419–435.

[13] Hu Y., Chen L., Chen Q. et al. Studies on litter decomposition between plantations [J]. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 1987, 11(2): 124-132.

[14] Kuepper G., Dodson M. Companion Planting: Basic Concepts and Resources, 2001 Berkeley, California: ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) Publication #IP125-71.

[15] Li W., Li L., Sun J. et al. Effects of intercropping and nitrogen application on nitrate present in the profile of an Orthic Anthrosol in Northewest China [J]. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 2005, 105: 483-491.

[16] Liu G., Jiang N., Zhang L. et al. Analysis of soil physical and chemical properties and description of soil profiles [M], 1996 Beijing: China Standard Press 85

[17] Luo R. Forest soil: Questions and Methods [M], 1983 Beijing: Science Press 23

[18] Massimo M., Marco M. Essential oil yield in peppermint/soybean strip intercropping [J]. Field Crops Research, 2003, 84: 229-240.

[19] Nambiar E.K.S. Sustained productivity of forests as a continuing challenge to soil science [J]. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 1997, 60: 1629-1642.

[20] Nissen T.M., Midmore D.J., Keeler A.G. Biophysical and economic tradeoffs of intercropping timber with food crops in Philippine uplands [J]. Agricultural Systems, 2001, 67: 49-69.

[21] Powers R.F., Tiarks A.E., Boyle J.R. Adams M.B., Ramakrishma K., Davidson E.A. Assessing soil quality: practicable standards for sustainable forest productivity in the United States [C] The Contribution of Soil Science to the Development and Implimentation of Criterial and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management, 1998 Madison: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Special Publication 53-80.

[22] Wance C.P. et al. Spaink H.P. et al. Legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation: agronomic aspects [C] The Rhizobiaceae, 1998 Harbin: Northeast Forestry University and Ecological Society of China 509-530.

[23] Wang Q., Wang C., Zhang G. Physical and chemical properties of soils within larch and larch-ash mixture stands [J]. Journal of Northeast Forestry University, 1994, 22(6): 24-29.

[24] Wani S.P., Rupela O.P., Lee K.K. Sustainable agriculture in the semi-arid tropics through biological nitrogen fixation in grain legumes [J]. Plant Soil, 1995, 174: 29-49.

[25] Wu Z., Jia J. Study on young fir forest-soybean intercropping and its integrative effects [J]. Journal. Zhejiang Forestry. Science. & Technologr., 1995, 15(3): 54-59.

[26] Yu X. Growth and interspecific nutrients relation within larch-ash mixture stand [M], 1996 Harbin: Northeast Forestry University Press 31

[27] Zhang W., Xu B. Oreitation methodology for forest soils [M], 1986 Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House 22