Cropping Systems: Applications, Management and Impact

10 Aleksandra Głowacka

phosphorus content in the edge rows of the maize strip adjacent to the oats.
The highest phosphorus content and uptake by maize in strip cropping was
observed in the border row of the strip adjacent to narrow-leafed lupin
(Table 1).

Table 1. Effect of narrow-leafed lupin/dent maize/oat strip cropping

system and row position in the strip on the content and uptake of

macroelements by maize. Data is from Głowacka (2014b)

Cropping system Content (g kg-^1 d.w.) Uptake (kg ha-^1 )

N P N P

Sole cropping 14.4 2.42 261.6 44.0

Strip cropping 13.24 2.11 227.9 39.3

Row

in the

strip

Next to narrow-leafed lupin 13.5 2.17 245.0 38.5

Inner 12.5 1.90 219.8 37.3

Next to oat 13.7 2.62 262.8 51.5

Table 2. Changes of acid phosphatase activity in the conditions of

peanut/maize and peanut/barley intercropping

Cropping The activity of acid phosphatase (μmol pNP g-^1 h-^1 )

In

rhizopshere

In bulk

soil

In
roots
Peanut 0.30 0.09 17.8 Data is from Inal et al.,
Maize 0.07 0.02 14.8 (2007)
Peanut/Maize 0.38 0.18 22.5
Peanut 0.217 0.057 21.15 Data is from Inal and
Maize 0.054 0.058 12.38 Guns. (2008)^
Peanut/Maize 0.241 0.047 20.86
Barley 0.228 0.059 19.22
Maize 0.052 0.049 6.62
Maize/Barley 0.249 0.055 20.49
pNP – nitrophenol.

The changes observed in phosphorus content and the uptake in different
rows of the maize strip confirm that interspecific differences in competitive
abilities play an important role in the accumulation of phosphorus by plants in
the intercropping system. In addition, legumes have the ability to recover
phosphorus from unavailable forms. One mechanism is the secretion of