Agroforestry promotes soybean yield stability and N2-fixation under water stress

Nasielski, Joshua; Furze, Jessie R.; Tan, Jun; Bargaz, Adnane; Thevathasan, Naresh V.; Isaac, Marney E.

doi:10.1007/s13593-015-0330-1

Cited by 48 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Based on previous work at the same experimental site, the percentage of N derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa), measured from soybean leaves, was significantly higher in the agroforest as compared to the monoculture (Nasielski et al., ). Specifically, at the “V5” (vegetative) stage of annual soybean growth, %Ndfa was reported as 2.7 ± 0.9 and 64.3 ± 4.1 for the monoculture and agroforest, respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Resistance and resilience of root fungal communities to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem

Furze

Martin

Nasielski

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding crop resilience to environmental stress is critical in predicting the consequences of global climate change for agricultural systems worldwide, but to date studies addressing crop resiliency have focused primarily on plant physiological and molecular responses. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualisms with many crop species, and these relationships are key in mitigating the effects of abiotic stress in many agricultural systems. However, to date there is little research examining whether (1) fungal community structure in agroecosystems is resistant to changing environmental conditions, specifically water limitation and (2) resilience of fungal community structure is moderated by agricultural management systems, namely the integration of trees into cropping systems. Here, we address these uncertainties through a rainfall reduction field experiment that manipulated short‐term water availability in a soybean‐based (Glycine max L. Merr.) agroforest in Southern Ontario, Canada. We employed terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to determine the molecular diversity of both general fungal and AMF communities in soybean roots under no stress, stress (rainfall shelters added), and poststress (rainfall shelters removed). We found that general fungal and AMF communities sampled from soybean roots were resistant to rainfall reduction in a monoculture, but not in an agroforest. While AMF communities were unchanged after stress removal, general fungal communities were significantly different poststress in the agroforest, indicating a capacity for resiliency. Our study indicates that generalist fungi and AMF are responsive to changes in environmental conditions and that agroecosystem management plays a key role in the resistance and resilience of fungal communities to water limitation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Resistance and resilience of root fungal communities to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem

Furze

Martin

Nasielski

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Recently, Nasielski et al. (2015) found that soybean (in the tree‐crop competitive zone of a 27‐year‐old tree‐based intercropping agroforestry system) allocated a larger proportion of nodule biomass to the lower root system under water limitation. These intercropped soybeans relied on N 2 ‐fixation to a higher extent to meet their N demand compared to soybeans grown in monocropping.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nodulation and root growth increase in lower soil layers of water‐limited faba bean intercropped with wheat

Bargaz

Isaac

Jensen

et al. 2016

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Below‐ground niche complementarity in legume–cereal intercrops may improve resource use efficiency and root adaptability to environmental constraints. However, the effect of water limitation on legume rooting and nodulation patterns in intercropping is poorly understood. To advance our knowledge of mechanisms involved in water‐limitation response, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown as mono‐ and intercrops in soil‐filled plexiglass rhizoboxes under water sufficiency (80% of water‐holding capacity) and water limitation (30% of water‐holding capacity). We examined whether intercropping facilitates below‐ground niche complementarity under water limitation via interspecific root stratification coupled with modified nodulation patterns. While no significant treatment effects were measured in intercropped wheat growth parameters, water limitation induced a decrease in shoot and root biomass of monocropped wheat. Likewise, shoot biomass and height, and root length of monocropped faba bean significantly decreased under water limitation. Conversely, water limitation stimulated root biomass of intercropped faba bean in the lower soil layer (15–30 cm soil depth). Similarly, total nodule number of faba bean roots as well as nodule number in the lower soil layer increased under intercropping regardless of water availability. Under water limitation, intercropping also led to a significant increased nodule biomass (48%) in the lower soil layer as compared to monocropping. The enhanced nodulation in the lower soil layer and the associated increase in root and shoot growth provides evidence for a shift in niche occupancy when intercropped with wheat, which improves water‐limited faba bean performance.

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“…In contrast, temperate AC can stabilize crop performance by moderating drought (Nasielski et al. ), reducing erosion and improving soil fertility (Udawatta et al. , Torralba et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Black walnut alley cropping is economically competitive with row crops in the MidwestUSA

Wolz

DeLucia

2018

Ecological Applications

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The maize–soybean rotation (MSR) dominates the Midwest United States and degrades many ecological functions. Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) plantation forestry (PF) and alley cropping (AC) are two alternative land‐uses that can enhance productivity and restore ecosystem services. Given the lack of robust market mechanisms to monetize ecosystems services, we tested whether the profitability of PF and AC could drive adoption in the Midwest. Publically available data on black walnut soil suitability, timber prices, crop productivity, and cash rents were combined in a high‐resolution spatial analysis to identify regions where these alternatives can outcompete MSR. To avoid selecting an arbitrary discount rate at which to make comparisons, we determined the threshold discount rate necessary to make PF or AC economically competitive with MSR. We show that, with a 5% discount rate, PF and AC could be more profitable on 17.0% and 23.4% of MSR land, respectively. Contrary to the common assumption that woody agricultural alternatives should first be adopted in marginal row crop areas, the economic competitiveness of PF and AC was not correlated with MSR productivity. Instead, black walnut growth rate was the central driver of PF and AC competitiveness, underscoring a necessary shift away from the current MSR‐centric perspective in defining target regions for land‐use alternatives. Results reveal major opportunities for landowners and investors to increase profitability by investing in PF and AC on both “marginal” and productive MSR land.

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Agroforestry promotes soybean yield stability and N2-fixation under water stress

Cited by 48 publications

References 35 publications

Resistance and resilience of root fungal communities to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem

Resistance and resilience of root fungal communities to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem

Nodulation and root growth increase in lower soil layers of water‐limited faba bean intercropped with wheat

Black walnut alley cropping is economically competitive with row crops in the MidwestUSA

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