Asymmetric facilitation induced by inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi leads to overyielding in maize/faba bean intercropping

[摘要] Understanding the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under different environmental contexts on overyielding in intercropping systems can be instructive in optimizing productivity and ecosystem services. A greenhouse study was conducted with maize and faba bean monocultures or intercropping at low phosphorus (P) and high P levels with three different water availabilities, and inoculated with or without AMF species Funneliformis mosseae. At low P level, overyielding was mainly due to the increase of maize biomass promoted by AMF relative to faba bean. Whereas in high P soils, overyielding was observed at all treatments, regardless of AMF. Inoculation of AMF significantly improved maize rather than faba bean P uptake, water use efficiency and photosynthesis rate, in particular at the low P level. This study identified the context dependence of AMF in influencing overyielding in maize/faba bean intercropping and demonstrates the importance of AMF in sustainable agricultural production.

[学科分类] 纳米科学和纳米技术

[关键词] Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi;faba bean;intercropping;maize;overyielding