Qiang Xiaolin, Sun Zhaojun, Li Xingqiang, Li Siqi, Yu Zhao, He Jun, Li Qian, Han Lei, He Ling
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
School of Geography and Planning, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
Plants (Basel). 2024 May 17;13(10):1402. doi: 10.3390/plants13101402.
(1) Background: Crop yields in China's arid and semi-arid regions are limited by water shortages. Exploring the interactions and resource utilization among agroforestry species is key to maintaining diversified agricultural production. (2) Objective: An apple-watermelon agroforestry system and watermelon sole-cropping system were compared to quantify how resource availability (light, water) and watermelon performance (leaf photosynthetic rate, growth, and yield) change with irrigation strategies. (3) Methods: A three-year apple and watermelon field experiment was conducted in a young apple orchard in the arid area of central Ningxia to test the effect of light competition and irrigation systems on light environment, leaf photosynthetic rate, plant growth, and yield in watermelon. The experiment encompassed two planting patterns: (i) apple-watermelon agroforestry (AF) and watermelon sole-cropping (SC) and (ii) three irrigation quotas (W1: 105 mm, W2: 210 mm, and W3: 315 mm). (4) Results: The results show that the agroforestry planting pattern extended the growth period of watermelon and increased the leaf area index. Mean daily shade intensity increased by 16.02% from 2020 to 2022. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was >1 in 2021 and 2022. The SWC, leaf photosynthetic rate, LAI, and yield of watermelon in an agroforestry planting pattern were lower than when in a sole-cropping planting pattern. However, under the W1 irrigation strategy, the total soluble solids of the agroforestry planting pattern were 2.27% higher than those of the sole-cropping pattern, and the yield of the agroforestry planting pattern was 2.59% higher than that of the sole-cropping pattern. Under the W3 irrigation strategy, the average watermelon weight in the agroforestry planting pattern was 2.85% higher than that of the sole-cropping pattern. A path analysis showed that the agroforestry planting pattern can increase the yield by increasing soil water content, which is different from the sole-cropping pattern. (5) Conclusions: The results confirm that the apple-watermelon agroforestry planting pattern reduced watermelon yields. However, the LER of the agroforestry system was greater than 1.0. It is reasonable to plant watermelons in young apple forests.
（1）背景：中国干旱和半干旱地区的作物产量受到水资源短缺的限制。探索农林复合物种之间的相互作用和资源利用是维持多样化农业生产的关键。（2）目的：比较苹果 - 西瓜农林复合系统和西瓜单作系统，以量化资源可用性（光照、水分）和西瓜性能（叶片光合速率、生长和产量）如何随灌溉策略而变化。（3）方法：在宁夏中部干旱地区的一个年轻苹果园中进行了为期三年的苹果和西瓜田间试验，以测试光照竞争和灌溉系统对西瓜的光环境、叶片光合速率、植物生长和产量的影响。该试验包括两种种植模式：（i）苹果 - 西瓜农林复合（AF）和西瓜单作（SC）；（ii）三种灌溉定额（W1：105毫米，W2：210毫米，W3：315毫米）。（4）结果：结果表明，农林复合种植模式延长了西瓜的生长期并增加了叶面积指数。2020年至2022年期间，日均遮荫强度增加了16.02%。2021年和2022年土地当量比（LER）大于1。农林复合种植模式下西瓜的土壤含水量、叶片光合速率、叶面积指数和产量均低于单作种植模式。然而，在W1灌溉策略下，农林复合种植模式的总可溶性固形物比单作模式高2.27%，农林复合种植模式的产量比单作模式高2.59%。在W3灌溉策略下，农林复合种植模式下西瓜的平均单果重比单作模式高2.85%。通径分析表明，农林复合种植模式可通过增加土壤含水量来提高产量，这与单作模式不同。（5）结论：结果证实苹果 - 西瓜农林复合种植模式降低了西瓜产量。然而，农林复合系统的土地当量比大于1.0。在幼龄苹果园中种植西瓜是合理的。
