Yield performance and optimal nitrogen and phosphorus application rates in wheat and faba bean intercropping

Yield performance in cereal and legume intercropping is related to nutrient management,however,the yield response of companion crops to nitrogen(N)input is inconclusive and only limited efforts have focused on rationed phosphorous(P)fertilization.In this study,two multi-year field experiments were implemented from 2014-2019 under identical conditions.Two factors in a randomized complete block design were adopted in both experiments.In field experiment 1,the two factors included three planting patterns(mono-cropped wheat(MW),mono-cropped faba bean(MF),and wheat and faba bean intercropping(W//F))and four N application rates(N0,0 kg N ha^(-1);N1,90 and 45 kg N ha^(-1) for wheat and faba beans,respectively;N2,180 and 90 kg N ha^(-1) for wheat and faba beans,respectively;and N3,270 and 135 kg N ha^(-1) for wheat and faba beans,respectively).In field experiment 2,the two factors included three P application rates(P0,0 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1);P1,45 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1);and P2,90 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1))and the same three planting patterns(MW,MF,and W//F).The yield performances of inter-and mono-cropped wheat and faba beans under different N and P application rates were analyzed and the optimal N and P rates for intercropped wheat(IW)and MW were estimated.The results revealed that intercropping favored wheat yield and was adverse to faba bean yield.Wheat yield increased by 18-26%,but faba bean yield decreased by 5-21% in W//F compared to MW and MF,respectively.The stimulated IW yield drove the yield advantage in W//F with an average land equivalent ratio(LER)of 1.12.N and P fertilization benefited IW yield,but reduced intercropped faba bean(IF)yield.Nevertheless,the partial LER of wheat(pLER_(wheat))decreased with increasing N application rates,and the partial LER of faba bean(pLER_(faba bean))decreased with increasing P application rates.Thus,LER decreased as N input increased and tended to decline as P rates increased.IW maintained a similar yield as MW,even under reduced 40-50% N fertilizer and 30-40% P fertilizer conditions.The estimated optimum N application rates for IW and MW were 150 and 168 kg ha^(-1),respectively,and 63 and 62 kg ha^(-1) for P_(2)O_(5),respectively.In conclusion,W//F exhibited yield advantages due to stimulated IW yield,but the intercropping yield benefit decreased as N and P inputs increased.Thus,it was concluded that modulated N and P rates could maximize the economic and ecological functions of intercropping.Based on the results,rates of 150 kg N ha^(-1) and 60 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1) are recommended for IW production in southwestern China and places with similar conditions.

The damage risk evaluation of Aphis gossypii on wheat by host shift and fitness comparison in wheat and cotton

Aphids are considered as one of the key pests for wheat production worldwide. Major aphid species that infest wheat in China include Sitobion avenae, Rhopalosiphum padi, Schizaphis graminum and Metopolophium dirhodum. However, during our wheat field survey in Wenshang County of Shangdong＇Province, China, we observed that Aphis gossypii can feed on wheat. The damage risk of A. gossypii on wheat was assessed using host shift method. A population of A. gossypii collected from a wheat field in 2015 and another population reared on cotton under laboratory conditions for a decade without exposure to insecticides were used in the study. The results of host shift demonstrated that the A. gossypfi colony from wheat has not yet developed wheat specialization. Moreover, the assessment of A. gossypii fitness on wheat and cotton showed that fecundity and net reproductive rate of A. gossypii population fed on wheat was significantly higher comparing to the population fed on cotton, whether the initial host of A. gossypii population was wheat or cotton. This study raises a warning that the cotton aphid has potential to establish well on wheat and it may cause significant effects under specific circumstances. Therefore, future studies are required to evaluate the effects of A. gossypfi on wheat production.