Growth and development of soybean under changing light environments in relay intercropping system

Background Maize-soybean relay-intercropping (MSR) is a famous system of crop production in developing countries. However, maize shading under this system directly affects the light quality and intensity of soybean canopy. This is a challenging scenario in which to implement the MSR system, in terms of varieties selection, planting pattern, and crop management since the duration of crop resource utilization clearly differs. Methods Therefore, this experiment aimed to elucidate the effect of leaf excising treatments from maize top to fully clarify the needs and balance of light quality and intensity of intercrop-soybean under MSR in field conditions. The effects of different leaf excising treatments (T0, no removal of leaves; T2, removal of two topmost leaves; T4, removal of four topmost leaves; T6, removal of six topmost leaves from maize plants were applied at first-trifoliate stage (V1) of soybean) on photosynthetically active radiation transmittance (PART), red to far-red ratio (R:FR), morphological and photosynthetic characteristics and total biomass production at second-trifoliate stage (V2), fifth-trifoliate stage (V5), and flowering-stage (R1) of soybean were investigated through field experiments for 2-years under MSR. Results As compared to T0, treatment T6 increased the PART and R:FR ratio at soybean canopy by 77% and 37% (V2), 70% and 34% (V5), and 41% and 36% (R1), respectively. This improved light environment in T6 considerably enhanced the leaf area index, SPAD values and photosynthetic rate of soybean plants by 66%, 25% and 49% at R1, respectively than T0. Similarly, relative to control, T6 also increased the stem diameter (by 29%) but decreased the plant height (by 23%) which in turn significantly increased stem breaking strength (by 87%) by reducing the lodging rate (by 59%) of soybean plants. Overall, under T6, relay-cropped soybean produced 78% of sole soybean seed-yield, and relay-cropped maize produced 81% of sole maize seed-yield. Our findings implied that by maintaining the optimum level of PART (from 60% to 80%) and R:FR ratio (0.9 to 1.1), we can improve morphological and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean plants in MSR. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the light environment when considering the sustainability of MSR via appropriate planting pattern selection.

Download Full-text

Narrow-wide row planting pattern improves the light environment and seed yields of intercrop species in relay intercropping system

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0212885 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. e0212885 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Lingyang Feng ◽

Muhammad Ali Raza ◽

Yuankai Chen ◽

Muhammad Hayder Bin Khalid ◽

Tehseen Ahmad Meraj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Light Environment ◽

Planting Pattern ◽

Relay Intercropping ◽

Seed Yields

Download Full-text

Responses of Soybean Dry Matter Production, Phosphorus Accumulation, and Seed Yield to Sowing Time under Relay Intercropping with Maize

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8120282 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 282 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Shoaib Ahmed ◽

Muhammad Raza ◽

Tao Zhou ◽

Sajad Hussain ◽

Muhammad Khalid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Growth Period ◽

Sowing Time ◽

Dry Matter Partitioning ◽

Area Index ◽

Matter Production ◽

Full Flowering ◽

Phosphorus Accumulation ◽

Relay Intercropping

Soybean production under maize–soybean relay-intercropping system (MSICS) is vulnerable to shading. A study was initiated to investigate the effects of three sowing-times: ST1, 90; ST2, 70; and ST3, 50 days of co-growth period and two phosphorus-rates: P0, 0; and P60, 60 kg P ha−1 on soybean under MSICS. Results revealed that ST3 significantly increased the photosynthetically active radiations, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate by 72% and 58%, and 61% and 38%, and 6% and 8%, respectively, at full-flowering and full-pod stage of soybean than ST1. Treatment ST3, increased the total dry-matter (TDM) and the highest TDM was reached at full-seed (R6) stage. Similarly, ST3 considerably increased the dry-matter partitioning to pods and seeds, relative to ST1, soybean under ST3 at R6 had 35% and 30% higher pod and seed dry-matter, respectively. Moreover, ST3 exhibited the maximum seed-yield (mean 1829.5 kg ha−1) for both years of this study. Soybean under ST3 with P60 accumulated 38% higher P, and increased the P content in pods and seeds by 36% and 33%, respectively at R6 than ST1. These results imply that by selecting the appropriate sowing-time and phosphorus-rate for soybean, we can increase the TDM and seed-yield of soybean under MSICS.

Download Full-text

Effects of contrasting shade treatments on the carbon production and antioxidant activities of soybean plants

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp19213 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 342 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Muhammad Ali Raza ◽

Ling Yang Feng ◽

Nasir Iqbal ◽

Imran Khan ◽

Tehseen Ahmad Meraj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Photosynthetic Characteristics ◽

Total Soluble Protein ◽

Protein Accumulation ◽

Total Soluble Sugar ◽

Relay Intercropping ◽

Soybean Plants ◽

Normal Light ◽

Soybean Leaves

In China, maize-soybean relay-intercropping system follow the two main planting-patterns: (i) traditional relay-intercropping; maize-soybean equal row planting, where soybean experience severe maize shading on both sides of plants, and (ii) modern relay-intercropping; narrow-wide row planting, in this new planting pattern only one side of soybean leaves suffer from maize shading. Therefore, in this study, changes in morphological traits, cytochrome content, photosynthetic characteristics, carbon status, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were investigated at 30 days after treatment (DAT) in shade-tolerant soybean variety Nandou-12 subjected to three different types of shading conditions; normal light (NL, all trifoliate-leaves of soybean plants were under normal light); unilateral shade (US, all right-side trifoliate-leaves of soybean plants from top to bottom were under shade while all the left-side of trifoliate-leaves from top to bottom were in normal light); bilateral shade (BS, all trifoliate-leaves of soybean plants were under complete shade). Compared with BS, US conditions decreased plant height and increased stem diameter, leaf area, and biomass at 30 DAT. Biomass distribution rates to stem, petiole and leaves, and photosynthetic characteristics were markedly improved by the US at all sampling stages, which proved to be a better growing condition than BS with respect to shade tolerance. The enhanced net photosynthesis and transpiration rates in the left-side leaves (LS) of soybean plants in US, when compared with the LS in BS, allowed them to produce higher total soluble sugar (by 70%) and total soluble protein (by 17%) at 30 DAT which reduce the adverse effects of shading at right-side leaves (RS) of the soybean plants. Similarly, soybean leaves under US accumulated higher proline content in US than the leaves of BS plants. Soybean leaves grown in shading conditions (LS and RS of BS and RS of US) developed antioxidative defence-mechanisms, including the accelerated activities of SOD, POD, APX, and CAT. Comparatively, soybean leaves in US displayed lower activity levels of the antioxidative enzymes than the leaves of BS plants, showing that soybean plants experienced less shade stress in US as compared with BS treatment. Overall, these results indicate that the association of improved photosynthetic characteristics, sugar and protein accumulation and optimum antioxidative defences could be an effective approach for growing soybean in intercropping environments.

Download Full-text

Narrow‐wide‐row planting pattern increases the radiation use efficiency and seed yield of intercrop species in relay‐intercropping system

Food and Energy Security ◽

10.1002/fes3.170 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Muhammad Ali Raza ◽

Ling Yang Feng ◽

Wopke Werf ◽

Gao Ren Cai ◽

Muhammad Hayder Bin Khalid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Radiation Use Efficiency ◽

Planting Pattern ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Relay Intercropping ◽

Radiation Use

Download Full-text

Yield, Antioxidant Components, Oil Content, and Composition of Onion Seeds Are Influenced by Planting Time and Density

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8080293 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 293 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carmine Amalfitano ◽

Nadezhda A. Golubkina ◽

Laura Del Vacchio ◽

Giuseppe Russo ◽

Mario Cannoniero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Oil Content ◽

Seed Oil ◽

Density Increase ◽

Area Index ◽

Planting Time ◽

Plant Leaf ◽

Crop Cycle

Research was carried out on onion landrace (Ramata di Montoro) for seed production in southern Italy, with the aim to evaluate the effects on yield and quality of four bulb planting times in factorial combination with four densities, using a split plot design with three replicates. The number of flower stalks per plant, their height and diameter, and the inflorescence diameter decreased with the bulb planting delay and density increase. The highest plant leaf area and LAI (leaf area index), seed yield, number, and mean weight were recorded with the earliest planting time, with the lowest bulb density eliciting the highest plant leaf area but the lowest LAI and seed yield per hectare. The ratio between seeds and inflorescence weight, and seed germinability, decreased with the planting delay and density increase. Seed oil, protein, and antioxidant content (polyphenols and selenium) were highest with the last crop cycle. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, predominant in oil, increased with planting time delay, whereas the monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid prevailed among polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fatty acids, respectively. Planting from 20 December to 10 January with 3.3 cold-stored bulbs per m2 was the most effective combination in terms of seed yield per hectare, whereas seed oil content and quality were the best, with the last crop cycle starting on 21 February, independent of bulb density.

Download Full-text

Light Quality Environment and Photomorphological Responses of Young Olive Trees

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7100369 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 369

Author(s):

Federico J. Ladux ◽

Eduardo R. Trentacoste ◽

Peter S. Searles ◽

M. Cecilia Rousseaux

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Light Quality ◽

Plant Morphology ◽

Cultivar Differences ◽

Crop Species ◽

Area Index ◽

Canopy Development ◽

Morphological Responses ◽

Olive Trees ◽

G Ratio

Tree densities have increased greatly in olive orchards over the last few decades. In many annual crop species, increased density reduces the horizontal red/far-red (R/FR) and blue/green (B/G) ratios during canopy development even before direct shading occurs, and such changes are known to alter plant morphology. This study with olive trees evaluated: (1) whether the leaf area index (LAI) of neighboring trees modifies the light quality environment prior to a tree being directly shaded and (2) the potential morphological responses of three olive cultivars to changes in light quality. Increasing LAI using different spatial arrangements of potted, three-year-old trees reduced the horizontal R/FR ratio more than that of the B/G ratio. Cultivar-specific responses to low R/FR ratio were observed for individual leaf area and aboveground/belowground biomass ratio using laterally positioned FR mirrors or green fences. No statistically significant responses were detected in response to green vegetation fences that reduced both horizontal R/FR and B/G ratios, but a cluster analysis grouped together the overall morphological responses to both FR mirrors and green fences. These results in olive trees suggest that cultivar differences in response to light quality may be relevant for understanding adaptation to dense orchards and identifying cultivars best suited to them.

Download Full-text

Source-sink optimization and morpho-physiological response of soybean [Glycine max] to detopping and mepiquat chloride application

Legume Research - An International Journal ◽

10.18805/lr-3971 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Manpreet Jaidka ◽

J.S. Deol ◽

Ramanjit Kaur ◽

R. Sikka

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Seed Weight ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Mepiquat Chloride ◽

Area Index ◽

Stover Yield ◽

Source Sink ◽

Pod Length ◽

100 Seed Weight

Effect of detopping and mepiquat chloride on morphological, physiological and yield attributes of soybean cultivar ‘SL 544’ was studied. A two year investigation was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015. The experiment was laid-out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments viz. control, detopping (removal of 4-5 cm apical portion of main stem) at 50-55 days after sowing (DAS), mepiquat chloride @ 200 ppm (50-55 DAS), mepiquat chloride @ 200 ppm (50-55 + 65-70 DAS), mepiquat chloride 250 ppm (50-55 DAS), mepiquat chloride @ 250 ppm (50-55 + 65-70 DAS), mepiquat chloride @ 300 ppm (50-55 DAS) and mepiquat chloride @ 300 ppm (50-55 + 65-70 DAS) with four replications. Detopping had a non-significant effect on leaf area index, SPAD value, PAR interception, abscission of reproductive parts, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, pod length and stover yield of soybean. It significantly decreased plant height, increased total dry matter accumulation/plant, number of flowers and pods/plant, pod setting percentage and seed yield over control during 2014 and 2015. At crop harvest, detopping developed optimized source-sink relationship by means of distribution of total dry matter between stem, foliage and pods by 20.4, 14.9 and 64.6 % during 2014 while 22.6, 20.1 and 57.4 % during 2015, respectively. Mepiquat chloride posed a non-significant effect on plant height, PAR interception, number of flowers/plant, number of seeds/pod, pod length and stover yield of soybean but it significantly decreased leaf area index, abscission of reproductive parts while increased the dry matter accumulation/plant, number of pods/plant, 100-seed weight and seed yield relative to control. At harvest, two foliar applications of mepiquat chloride @ 250 ppm resulted in optimized source-sink relationship by the distribution of total dry matter among stem, foliage and pods by 20.6, 10.9 and 68.5 % during 2014 while 19.5, 7.6 and 72.9 % during 2015, respectively. Occurrence of more rainfall during 2015 as compared to 2014 caused mepiquat chloride to hike seed yield as compared to detopping which is clearly witnessed by increase in pod dry weight per plant during 2015 than 2014. Conclusively, both detopping and mepiquat chloride resulted in enhancement in source-sink relationship and seed yield of soybean.

Download Full-text

Temperature and Light-Quality-Dependent Regulation of Freezing Tolerance in Barley

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9010083 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 83 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohamed Ahres ◽

Krisztián Gierczik ◽

Ákos Boldizsár ◽

Pavel Vítámvás ◽

Gábor Galiba

Keyword(s):

Light Intensity ◽

Target Gene ◽

Light Quality ◽

Incident Light ◽

Gene Expression Pattern ◽

Frost Tolerance ◽

Light Conditions ◽

Incident Light Intensity ◽

Binding Factor ◽

R:Fr Ratio

It is established that, besides the cold, incident light also has a crucial role in the cold acclimation process. To elucidate the interaction between these two external hardening factors, barley plantlets were grown under different light conditions with low, normal, and high light intensities at 5 and 15 °C. The expression of the HvCBF14 gene and two well-characterized members of the C-repeat binding factor (CBF)-regulon HvCOR14b and HvDHN5 were studied. In general, the expression level of the studied genes was several fold higher at 5 °C than that at 15 °C independently of the applied light intensity or the spectra. The complementary far-red (FR) illumination induced the expression of HvCBF14 and also its target gene HvCOR14b at both temperatures. However, this supplementation did not affect significantly the expression of HvDHN5. To test the physiological effects of these changes in environmental conditions, freezing tests were also performed. In all the cases, we found that the reduced R:FR ratio increased the frost tolerance of barley at every incident light intensity. These results show that the combined effects of cold, light intensity, and the modification of the R:FR light ratio can greatly influence the gene expression pattern of the plants, which can result in increased plant frost tolerance.

Download Full-text

Influence of Burner Position on Temperature Distribution in Soybean Flaming

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10030391 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 391 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Miloš Rajković ◽

Goran Malidža ◽

Strahinja Stepanović ◽

Marko Kostić ◽

Kristina Petrović ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temperature Distribution ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Growth Stage ◽

Flame Temperature ◽

Soil Surface ◽

High Variability ◽

Temperature Distributions ◽

Soybean Canopy ◽

Soybean Plants ◽

Surface Flame

The main objective of this study was to identify optimal burner orientation for a newly designed flame cultivator by quantifying the flame temperature distributions of cross, back, and parallel position of burners at different heights of the soybean canopy (distance from the soil surface). Flame temperatures were measured within-row for three burner orientations at seven propane doses (20–100 kg/ha) and eight different canopy heights (0–18 cm above soil surface). Soybean plants in V3 growth stage were flamed with the same doses and burner orientations, and 28 days after treatment (DAT) crop injury (0%–100%), plant height (cm), dry matter (g) and grain yield (t/ha) were assessed. All three burner orientations had high flame temperatures at lower canopy heights (<6 cm high) that gradually decreased with increasing canopy height (6–18 cm). Measured temperatures ranged from 33 to 234 ℃ for cross flaming, 29 to 269 ℃ for back flaming and 23 to 155 ℃ for parallel flaming, with high variability in temperature patterns. Back flaming generated flame temperatures above 100℃ at a lower propane dose (27 kg/ha) compared to cross and parallel flaming (40 and 50 kg/ha). For all tested parameters, parallel and cross flaming had better impact on soybeans than back flaming, but for weed control in crop rows, cross flaming is recommended.

Download Full-text

Dry matter accumulation and partitioning, and seed yield in indeterminate Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet)

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/a96015 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 91 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Hardy ◽

C. Huyghe ◽

J. Papineau

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Area Index ◽

Lupinus Mutabilis ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Agronomic Potential ◽

Total Plant Biomass ◽

Plant Maturity

Despite the high oil and protein content of the seeds, the agronomic potential of Lupinus mutabilis Sweet, a South American lupin species, is limited because of its low seed yield and its uncertain maturity. Dry matter accumulation and partitioning, and seed yield, of 2 genotypes (early-maturing LM34 and late-maturing LM268) were studied in 2 seasons at 2 densities at Lusignan, France. Total dry matter at harvest was, on average, 680 g/m2. The mainstem and first-order branches mainly contributed to total plant biomass but pods were only produced on the mainstem. On average, across the different crops, the maximum leaf area index (LAI) was 2· 8. The duration of LAI above 2·5 was short and not correlated with the total dry matter production. The partitioning of the dry matter varied according to the genotype. LM34 showed enhanced pod growth, its harvest index (HI) was 0·32, and seed yield averaged 1·28 t/ha. LM268 showed enhanced vegetative growth, both HI and seed yield were lower (0·16 and 1·13 t/ha, respectively), and whole plant maturity was never reached. For both genotypes during the pod filling, no remobilisation of assimilates occurred from stems to pods.

Download Full-text