To explore the optimal model of maize and soybean composite cropping and its effects on soil nutrients and yield in the semi-arid region of Western Liaoning. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the brown soil region of Fuxin City, Liaoning Province, from 2023 to 2024. Four cropping systems-maize monoculture (M), soybean monoculture (S), maize/soybean intercropping (IMS), and maize/soybean strip rotation (IRMS),were established. Indicators such as soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nutrients, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, soil carbon and nitrogen acquisition enzyme activities, soil quality index (SQI), and crop yield were systematically evaluated. The results indicated that: The soil quality index (SQI) of the strip rotation treatment (IRMS) was significantly higher than that of maize and soybean monoculture by 12.43% to 14.14% (P<0.05). In terms of productivity, the maize equivalent yield in the strip rotation treatment was 10 363 kg/hm2, with a land equivalent ratio of 1.16, which was significantly higher than that in the intercropping treatment (IMS), demonstrating better land use efficiency. By 2024, the surface organic carbon content of the strip rotation treatments was 48.59% to 66.77% higher than that of the maize and soybean monocrops, the soil carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio was 13.06, which was significantly higher than that of the other three treatments (P<0.05). Its soil microbial carbon content was significantly higher than that of the intercropping. Compared with maize and soybean monocropping, intercropping and strip rotations simultaneously and significantly (P<0.05) increased ammonium and nitrate N contents in the 0-20 cm soil layer, and significantly (P<0.05) increased nitrogen-acquiring enzyme activities. In conclusion, the maize and soybean strip rotation system, by optimizing the spatio-temporal configuration of maize and soybean, achieves the dual goals of enhancing soil fertility and system productivity. The system is a sustainable composite cropping model suitable for promotion and application in the semi-arid region of Western Liaoning.
玉米(Zea mays L.)与大豆(Glycine max L.)是保障全球与中国粮食安全的两大关键作物,其产量的稳定性关系到农业系统的可持续发展[1]。在中国,大豆相较于玉米存在明显的供需矛盾,产能不足已成为制约其产业发展的瓶颈[2]。在此背景下,通过进行间作这种能够充分利用土地和环境资源、协调粮豆争地矛盾的种植制度,是提升玉米和大豆产能的重要途径[3]。因此,探究玉米大豆间作对土壤肥力及生产力的影响规律,对于挖掘粮豆生产中的固碳增产潜力及该模式可持续发展具有重要意义。
由图5可知,0—20 cm 土壤中,2023—2024年不同种植模式的土壤碳氮比(C/N)仅IRMS在2024年较上一年提升8.65%,其他3个处理的C/N均下降。2024年4个处理的C/N存在显著差异,IRMS的C/N为13.06±0.10,显著高于其他3个处理。在>20—40 cm土层中,2023年4个处理的C/N无显著差异,2024年,各处理的C/N差异均达到显著水平,由高到低为条带轮作(IRMS)>间作(IMS)>大豆单作(S)>玉米单作(M)(P<0.05)。
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