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| Spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture in young Malus pumila+Arachis hypogaea intercropping system on the Loess Plateau of West Shanxi Province |
| (College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Key Lab. of Soil & Water Conservation and Desertification Combating of Ministry of Education, 100083, Beijing, China) |
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Abstract By taking the typical representative young Malus pumila+Arachis hypogaea intercropping plots in the loess region of West Shanxi Province as the research object, soil moisture at different times in Arachis hypogaea growing season, the biomass and yield of Arachis hypogaea both in intercropping plots and monoculture plots were tested to find out the spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture and the effects of soil water. Results indicated that: 1) the soil moisture of Malus pumila+Arachis hypogaea intercropping plots changed significantly in different months, and the maximum consumption period for soil moisture occurred in July; 2) in vertical direction, the soil moisture increased with soil depth increasing, while in horizontal direction, the lowest soil moisture appeared at the area adjacent to the Malus pumila tree line and the mean value increased with the distance increasing; 3) the topsoil near the Malus pumila tree line was the most competitive region for soil moisture by trees and crops; 4) in the current tree age, soil moisture effect of Malus pumila+Arachis hypogaea intercropping system had an overall negative effect which reduced Arachis hypogaea production compared with monoculture plots. It was a limiting factor to enhance the ecological and economic benefits by fruit-crop intercropping; 5) the authors recommended to take appropriate regulation and management measures to alleviate interspecific competition for soil moisture and to improve Arachis hypogaea yields.
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Received: 28 March 2013
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