Eggplant transplants11/20/2023 Relay intercropping is considered a practical application for basic ecological principles such as diversity, competition, and facilitation ( Hauggaard-Nielsen et al., 2008), and this practice has shown enormous potential for improving soil nutrient efficiency and reducing the occurrence of plant pests, weeds, and soil-borne diseases. Relay intercropping in mixed-cropping systems is defined as the overlapping cultivation of two or more crops in the same field, with the second crop planted when the first crop has reached its reproductive stage but has not yet been harvested ( Hiddink et al., 2010). However, as crop rotation rarely occurs in protected plastic tunnel systems because of the limited land area available under the plastic tunnels and Chinese farmers are accustomed to repeatedly planting the same crop in the same field, the cultivation pattern of relay intercropping has recently garnered increasing attention. Crop rotation is commonly practiced to decrease the incidence of soil-borne pathogens and to maintain soil fertility ( Hiddink et al., 2010). One beneficial agricultural measure that alleviates such continuous cropping obstacles is crop rotation, which is the practice of sequentially growing different crops in the same field. However, the continuous cropping of eggplant, which commonly occurs in China, can have negative effects, including increase in autotoxins in the plant which blocks its growth decrease in resistance to bad environment slow development and reduce in yield and quality. China, which is currently the largest producer of eggplant, has experienced a rapid increase in areas of protected cultivation. Eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide and is grown in most parts of the world. Thus from both the growth and physiological perspective, it was concluded that eggplant/garlic relay intercropping is a beneficial cultivation practice maintaining stronger plant growth and higher yield.Ĭontinuous cropping is a simple, repetitive agronomic practice that is often performed for vegetables cultivated under protection in China due to concerns of land-use efficiency and the cultivation habits of farmers ( Xiao et al., 2012). The lower MDA content and enzyme activities in relay intercropping treatments showed that the eggplant suffered less damage from environment and continuous cropping obstacles, which promoted healthier plant. For eggplant yield in 2011, NG was 2.85% higher than CK after the time for the green garlic pulled out was moved forward in 2012, the yield was increased by 6.26 and 7.80%, respectively, in NG and GG. The plant height and stem of eggplant was lower, but the maximal leaf area was larger in NG and GG in 2011 in 2012 the plant growth was stronger in relay intercropping treatments. The general trend of PAL activity was similar to MDA. PPO activity trends were generally opposite to those of POD. In both years, the MDA content was significantly lower and SOD and POD activities were generally lower in NG and GG compared with CK in most sampling dates. Three experimental treatments with three repeats in each were carried out (completely randomized block design): eggplant monoculture (CK), eggplant relay intercropping with normal garlic (NG), and eggplant relay intercropping with green garlic (GG). Field experiment was carried out to investigate the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) and plant height, stem diameter, maximal leaf area, and yield of eggplant grown under successive cropping in the year 20 to see if relay intercropping with garlic ( Allium sativum L.) could benefit to eggplant growth and yield. Relay intercropping represents an alternative for sustainable production of vegetables, but the changes of internally antioxidant defense combined with the growth and yield are not clear. College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.Mengyi Wang Cuinan Wu Zhihui Cheng * Huanwen Meng
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