Simulation experiment on yield and root response of intercropping wheat and faba bean to alternative irrigation

In this study,a root box experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of alternative irrigation on the yield,root weight and length of wheat and faba bean in mono-cropping and intercropping systems,in order to search evidence for integrating alternative irrigation into intercropping.Results showed that,compared to conventional irrigation treatment correspondingly,the seed yield,biomass,root weight,root length of mono-cropping wheat was increased by 14.7 %,2.9 %,6.4 %,7.2 % respectively,and that of the intercropping wheat was increased by 21.1 %,13.2 %,16.1 %,16.0 % respectively;and the seed yield,biomass,root weight,root length of alternative irrigated mono-cropping and intercropping faba bean was increased by 4.2 %,1.8 %,2.1 %,6.8 % and 13.3 %,5.8 %,5.1 %,24.1 % respectively.Under alternative irrigation,the yield of intercropping wheat and faba bean was higher than that of the mono-cropping ones,this confirmed that integrating alternative irrigation into intercropping system was feasible.