Effects of maize-soybean relay intercropping on crop nutrient uptake and soil bacterial community

Abstract Maize-soybean relay intercropping is an effective approach to improve the crop yield and nutrient use efficiency, which is widely practiced by farmers in southwest of China. To elucidate the characteristics of different planting patterns on crop nutrient uptake, soil chemical properties, and soil bacteria community in maize-soybean relay intercropping systems, we conducted a field experiment in 2015–2016 with single factor treatments, including monoculture maize (MM), monoculture soybean (MS), maize-soybean relay intercropping (IMS), and fallow (CK). The results showed that the N uptake of maize grain increased in IMS compared with MM. Compared with MS, the yield and uptake of N, P, and K of soybean grain were increased by 25.5, 24.4, 9.6, and 22.4% in IMS, respectively, while the N and K uptakes in soybean straw were decreased in IMS. The soil total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and soil organic matter contents were significantly higher in IMS than those of the corresponding monocultures and CK. Moreover, the soil protease, soil urease, and soil nitrate reductase activities in IMS were higher than those of the corresponding monocultures and CK. The phyla Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria dominated in all treatments. Shannon's index in IMS was higher than that of the corresponding monocultures and CK. The phylum Proteobacteria proportion was positively correlated with maize soil organic matter and soybean soil total nitrogen content, respectively. These results indicated that the belowground interactions increased the crop nutrient (N and P) uptake and soil bacterial community diversity, both of which contributed to improved soil nutrient management for legume-cereal relay intercropping systems.