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Background and aims <p>Optimizing co-growth duration in diversified cropping (DC) systems is critical for regulating resource use efficiency, yet its role in plant phosphorus (P) acquisition and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigated how maize-soybean co-growth duration influences crop growth, P uptake, root traits, soil P dynamics, and the contribution of soybean root decomposition to maize P acquisition.</p> Methods <p>Two pot experiments were conducted using two acidic soils differing in fertility from the same trial. Three DC systems with contrasting co-growth durations were established by altering maize sowing time relative to soybean: DC100, DC50, and DC0, representing 100%, 50%, and 0% co-growth, respectively. To account for differences in maize growth period and seasonal conditions, corresponding time-matched sole-maize controls were included for each system.</p> Results <p>Across both experiments, DC50 consistently enhanced soybean and maize P uptake compared with DC100 and DC0. Although soybean root decomposition and P release did not differ between DC50 and DC0, maize P uptake significantly increased only under DC50, indicating a greater efficiency in converting residue-derived P into maize uptake. In addition, DC50 reduced maize specific root length and had limited effects on soil available P pools, whereas DC0 increased maize acid phosphatase activity and resin P.</p> Conclusion <p>Our findings demonstrate that moderate co-growth maximizes crop P acquisition in maize-soybean systems. This effect is associated with coordinated changes in post-harvest soybean root decomposition, root traits and soil P dynamics. Further field-based and long-term studies are needed to evaluate the generality of these mechanisms.</p>

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Moderate co-growth duration enhances crop growth and phosphorus uptake in maize-soybean diversified cropping systems

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月4日

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  • Zeting Lai,
  • Ziwei Yuan,
  • Xiangjun Wang,
  • Yuxuan Liu,
  • Mingen Li,
  • Xiaohui Zhu,
  • Danyu He,
  • Yixia Cai,
  • Kunzheng Cai,
  • Jihui Tian

摘要

Background and aims

Optimizing co-growth duration in diversified cropping (DC) systems is critical for regulating resource use efficiency, yet its role in plant phosphorus (P) acquisition and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigated how maize-soybean co-growth duration influences crop growth, P uptake, root traits, soil P dynamics, and the contribution of soybean root decomposition to maize P acquisition.

Methods

Two pot experiments were conducted using two acidic soils differing in fertility from the same trial. Three DC systems with contrasting co-growth durations were established by altering maize sowing time relative to soybean: DC100, DC50, and DC0, representing 100%, 50%, and 0% co-growth, respectively. To account for differences in maize growth period and seasonal conditions, corresponding time-matched sole-maize controls were included for each system.

Results

Across both experiments, DC50 consistently enhanced soybean and maize P uptake compared with DC100 and DC0. Although soybean root decomposition and P release did not differ between DC50 and DC0, maize P uptake significantly increased only under DC50, indicating a greater efficiency in converting residue-derived P into maize uptake. In addition, DC50 reduced maize specific root length and had limited effects on soil available P pools, whereas DC0 increased maize acid phosphatase activity and resin P.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that moderate co-growth maximizes crop P acquisition in maize-soybean systems. This effect is associated with coordinated changes in post-harvest soybean root decomposition, root traits and soil P dynamics. Further field-based and long-term studies are needed to evaluate the generality of these mechanisms.