Agroforestry system is regarded as a promising practice in sustainable agricultural management. However, the effects of long-term tree-based intercropping on crop remain poorly understood, especially in the Loess Plateau (China). In this study, the impacts of photosynthetic and respiration rate were determined by the portable photosynthesis system (Li-6400), and the effects of the root growth dynamics of soybean in the walnut-soybean intercropping system were measured by soil auger and WinRHIZO root analysis system, in the Loess Plateau. The results showed that soybean reached the highest net photosynthetic rate during flowering period, with the net photosynthetic rate of intercropped soybean, which was 20.40 μmol-m-2-s-1, significantly higher than that of its monocropped counterpart. Soybean biomass reached the maximum during the pod-bearing period, with intercropped soybean biomass being 25.49 g, significantly higher than that of its monocropped counterpart. The mean diameter and increased density of soybean fine roots reduced along with increased soil depth. Both the diameter (0.43 mm) and increased density (930 cm/dm3) of intercropped soybean fine roots were evidently higher than those of monocropped soybean (0.35 mm, 780cm/dm3). With increasing cropping years, fine roots of intercropped soybean tended to be mainly distributed in soil at a depth between 0 and 20 cm from the fifth year. Collectively, compared with soybean monoculture, walnut-soybean agroforestry system is more conducive to soybean growth in the Loess Plateau.
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