Effects Of Different Intercropping Models On Uptake And Runoff Loss Of Nutrient, Crop Yield And Economic Benefits

Long-term field experiments was conducted to study on the effect of different maize-crop intercropping/relay-intercropping models on crop nutrient uptake, nutrient runoff loss, crop yield and economic benefits. The main results were as follows:1.The crop intercropping models could enhance the accumulation and uptake of N, P, K nutrients.Accumulation amount of nitrogen (N) in maize-soybean intercropping and maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping were 64.89% to 66.08% higher than that was found in maize monoculture; accumulation amount of phosphorus (P) nutrients in maize-sesame intercropping and maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping were 65.56% to 80.69% higher than what was observed in maize monoculture.; and the accumulation amount of potassium (K) in maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping was the highest among the all farming system.2. The concentration and load of nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P) and potassium(K) nutrients runoff loss were high in early crop growth stage or runoff event initial.With crop growth period advancing to mid-stage, nutrient runoff loss decreased and the values from the previous month undulates fluctuations, changes in the values of crop maturity were more stable. Maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping could be the best model of controlling nutrient runoff loss, followed by the best was maize-soybean intercropping.Compared with maize monoculture treatment (T1), all models were smaller in TN loss concentrations and load, maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping treatment (T5) processed to reduce the TN loss concentrations and load loss of 26.12% and 40.22 %.Which also could process to reduce the PN, NO3--N, NH4+-N loss load of 41.47%,49.08%,67.92%, respectively. And then, maize-soybean intercropping of T4 treatment was the minimum loss of TDN,which was difference with no significance between T4 and T5.Terms of the TP or different forms phosphorus loss concentrations and load, all the intercropping treatments were better than monoculture treatment. T5 could handle runoff loss of TP loss concentrations and load reduction than the T1 treatment of 35.67% and 52.69%, while compared with T1, runoff’s PP,TDP loss load reduction of T5 were 46.97%,56.00%.Maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping was helpful to reduce the average loss of concentration in the different forms of TDP, followed by T5 was maize-soybean intercropping.T5 was still the smallest pattern to handle TK annual loss concentrations and load, and then was maize-soybean intercropping of T4 treatment.3. Maize relay-intercropped sweet potato or intercropped soybean could significantly receive the best sense of light. The groups constructed between the two sets have a reasonable LAI, which conditionally created enough photosynthetic potential groups to improve crop productivity and photosynthetic capacity of the blade. It provided the possibility to obtain better economic benefits for the realization of high-yield crops and corresponding processing.4. Compared with the maize monoculture, all intercropping patterns could significantly increase grain yield and aboveground biomass, the increased rang were 3.99%-24.46%and 1.36%-23.89%, respectively. Grain yield of maize in maize-sweet potato intercropping models (T5) relative to the other three intercropping patterns (T2, T3, T4) were increased by 19.68%,13.85% and 1.22%, respectively, which was reached 8401.14 kg/hm2. Economic analysis showed that economic benefits of the T2-T5 intercropping models relative to the T1 models were increased by 174.95%,11.54%,223.31% and 603.11%, and the economic benefits of the maize-sweet potato intercropping is the best.In summary, intercropping or relay-intercropping models could effectively accelerate the nutrient uptake of maize and other crops, which could better to regulate and reduce runoff loss of nutrients, improve the light sense of canopy, thereby enhance the yield and economic benefits of maize and other crops. Maize-sweet potato relay-intercropping models was the best model of all intercropping models involved in economic and environmental ecological benefits.