The Dynamics of Soil Microbe Metabolic Function Diversity in the Root-Zone of Maize-Soybean Intercropping

Maize and soybean intercropping can increase aboveground productivity and land use efficiency. Soil microbes play important roles in plant nutrient availability and soil ecosystems. However, the dynamics of soil microbe metabolic function diversity of intercropping have been less reported. We monitored the soil microbes metabolic function, diversity and carbon sources utilization in the root-zone soil of intercropped maize and soybean throughout the growing season by using Biology techniques. Our results showed that at the seedling stage for maize and soybean, the C-substrate-utilization profiles were grouped according to crop type (i.e. intercropping maize and monocropping maize grouped together). In contrast, at the tasseling stage for maize, the profiles were grouped by cropping systems (i.e., intercropping maize and intercropping soybean grouped together). Furthermore, intercropping enhanced the C-substrate-utilization profiles in maize, leading to more efficient metabolism of nitrogen compounds (such as amines) and other substrates that are typically resistant to degradation (such as esters). Last, the alpha-biodiversity Shannon index (H) and Simpson (J) were significantly higher in intercropping maize (H=4.762, J=0.961) samples than in monocropping maize (H=4.685, J=0.958) at the tasseling stage for maize. (C) 2019 Friends Science Publishers