The Role of Intercropping in Plant Biofortification 9advantage in nitrogen uptake over neighbouring plants. Głowacka (2013b)
reported that the highest nitrogen uptake was noted in the edge row next to the
lupin. This may result from the transfer of nitrogen to the maize from the
lupin, which has been observed in a number of cases of legume/cereal mixed
intercropping (Brophy et al., 1987; Temperton et al., 2007 ). Nitrogen transfer
from the N-fixing legume to the other species reduces the need for N fertiliser.
Growing plant species with differing root architecture in the same field can
also increase nutrient-use efficiency. According to Zhang and Li ( 2003 ), maize
and water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.) intercropping reduced the
residual nitrate concentration after harvest compared with crops in
monoculture. Thus intercropping may be an important strategy for using
nitrogen efficiently and for reducing the risks of N-leaching.
Figure 1. Changes of nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in peanut/maize
intercropping. Data is from Inal et al., ( 2007 ).
Phosphorus
Li et al., (2001b) observed greater phosphorus uptake by plants in
wheat/maize strip intercropping, but no effect of wheat/soybean strip
intercropping on phosphorus accumulation. However, the ability of wheat to
take up phosphorus was greater than that of maize. In another study
(Głowacka 2014b), strip cropping significantly reduced phosphorus content in
maize in comparison with sole cropping. This was due to the lower