AUTHOR=Liao Zhiyuan , Chen Qiaohuan , Li Jinxin , Wei Lu , Wu Jialiang , Wang Xiao , Liu Qi , Miao Yuhuan , Liu Dahui 

TITLE=Influence of Chrysanthemum morifolium-maize intercropping pattern on yield, quality, soil condition, and rhizosphere soil microbial communities of C. morifolium

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1383477

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1383477

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p><italic>Chrysanthemum morifolium</italic> Ramat. is a perennial herb in the Compositae family, often employed in traditional Chinese medicine due to its medicinal value. The planting of <italic>C. morifolium</italic> faces the challenges of continuous cropping, and intercropping is able to somewhat overcome the obstacles of continuous cropping.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In our study, we designed two different <italic>C. morifolium</italic>-maize intercropping patterns, including <italic>C. morifolium</italic>-maize narrow-wide row planting (IS) and <italic>C. morifolium</italic>-maize middle row planting (IM). Compared with monoculture, the agronomic traits, yield, active ingredients, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and rhizosphere soil microbial communities of <italic>C. morifolium</italic> and maize were measured under the two <italic>C. morifolium</italic>-maize intercropping patterns.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The findings indicated that (1) Intercropping elevated the agronomic traits, yield, and active ingredients of <italic>C. morifolium</italic>, especially in <italic>C. morifolium</italic>-maize narrow-wide row planting pattern, which indicating that interspecific distance played an important role in intercropping system; (2) Intercropping enhanced soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of <italic>C. morifolium</italic> and maize; (3) Intercropping altered rhizosphere soil microbial communities of <italic>C. morifolium</italic> and maize, making microbial interrelationships more complex. (4) Intercropping could recruit a large number of beneficial microorganisms enrich in the soil, including <italic>Bacillus</italic>, <italic>Sphingomonas</italic>, <italic>Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia</italic>, <italic>Chaetomium</italic>, and <italic>Ceratorhiza</italic>, which may increase the content of AN, NN, AvK, ExCa, AvCu, AvZn and other nutrients in soil and promoted the growth and quality of <italic>C. morifolium.</italic></p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>In summary, intercropping with maize could promote the accumulation of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, thus improving the overall growing environment, and finally realizing the growth and improvement of <italic>C. morifolium</italic>.</p></sec>