@article{a552952efc0540ea810a3438fbd8c30c,
title = "Leaf, plant, to canopy: A mechanistic study on aboveground plasticity and plant density within a maize–soybean intercrop system for the Midwest, USA",
abstract = "Plants have evolved to adapt to their neighbours through plastic trait responses. In intercrop systems, plant growth occurs at different spatial and temporal dimensions, creating a competitive light environment where aboveground plasticity may support complementarity in light-use efficiency, realizing yield gains per unit area compared with monoculture systems. Physiological and architectural plasticity including the consequences for light-use efficiency and yield in a maize-soybean solar corridor intercrop system was compared, empirically, with the standard monoculture systems of the Midwest, USA. The impact of reducing maize plant density on yield was investigated in the following year. Intercropped maize favoured physiological plasticity over architectural plasticity, which maintained harvest index (HI) but reduced light interception efficiency (ɛi) and conversion efficiency (ɛc). Intercropped soybean invested in both plasticity responses, which maintained ɛi, but HI and ɛc decreased. Reducing maize plant density within the solar corridor rows did not improve yields under monoculture and intercrop systems. Overall, the intercrop decreased land-use efficiency by 9%–19% and uncoordinated investment in aboveground plasticity by each crop under high maize plant density does not support complementarity in light-use efficiency. Nonetheless, the mechanistic understanding gained from this study may improve crop cultivars and intercrop designs for the Midwest to increase yield.",
keywords = "complementarity, light-use efficiency, plant architecture, yield",
author = "Pelech, {Elena A.} and Evers, {Jochem B.} and Pederson, {Taylor L.} and Drag, {David W.} and Peng Fu and Bernacchi, {Carl J.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the USDA to the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely to provide specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The authors thank Tim Mies, Ben Harbaugh, Ben Thompson, Ron Edquilang and Trace Elliot for their management and assistance of the Energy Farm Facility and preparations of the field for this project. The authors also thank Erin Fisher, Bethany Blakely, Matt Siebers, Scott Swanson, Oviya Sougoumarane, Christy Gibson, Katie Bowman, Brett Feddersen, Xiangmin Sun and Evan Dracup for their assistance with data collection and sensor maintenance. The authors also thank Adam Davis, Will Glazik, Bob Recker and LeRoy Deichman for their guidance on the solar corridor concept. Lastly, the authors thank Elizabeth Ainsworth, Don Ort and Adam Davis for their scientific advice throughout the development of this manuscript. Funding Information: This work was funded by the USDA to the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely to provide specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The authors thank Tim Mies, Ben Harbaugh, Ben Thompson, Ron Edquilang and Trace Elliot for their management and assistance of the Energy Farm Facility and preparations of the field for this project. The authors also thank Erin Fisher, Bethany Blakely, Matt Siebers, Scott Swanson, Oviya Sougoumarane, Christy Gibson, Katie Bowman, Brett Feddersen, Xiangmin Sun and Evan Dracup for their assistance with data collection and sensor maintenance. The authors also thank Adam Davis, Will Glazik, Bob Recker and LeRoy Deichman for their guidance on the solar corridor concept. Lastly, the authors thank Elizabeth Ainsworth, Don Ort and Adam Davis for their scientific advice throughout the development of this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.",
year = "2023",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1111/pce.14487",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "46",
pages = "405--421",
journal = "Plant, Cell and Environment",
issn = "0140-7791",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "2",
}