Effects of Roots Interaction on the Growth of Rhizosphere Microorganisms in Maize and Soybean Intercropping

Intercropping can enhance the land utilization rate, increase crop yield and biomass, is widely used in the world of cropping system. Roots interaction affects the rhizosphere of matter and energy exchange and the growth of rhizosphere microorganisms. Pot experiment with root separation polythene film barrier (PB), mesh barrier (MB) and no barrier (NB)was carried out to study the effect of roots interaction on the amount of rhizosphere microorganisms in maize and soybean intercropping. The main results obtained were as follows: (1) In comparison with PB, NB significantly (P 0.05) increased above-ground biomass and grain yields of maize by 15.04% and 124.21% in maize, but there was no significantly difference in soybean. (2) In comparison with PB, NB significantly increased the amount of rhizosphere bacteria of maize by 20.83% in heading stage and significantly increased those of soybean by 4.98%, 14.14% and 19.92% in flowering stage, podding stage and mature period. (3) NB significantly increased the amount of rhizosphere fungi of maize by 24.08% in heading stage and those of soybean by 12.62% in podding stage. (4) NB significantly increased the amount of rhizosphere actinomycetes of maize by 19.07% and 30.93% in heading stage and milk ripe stage and those of soybean by 14.92% in flowering stage. Therefore, maize intercropping with soybean had advantages and root interaction enhanced the numbers of rhizosphere microorganisms in maize and soybean intercropping.