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@ARTICLE{Zhang:156380,
      author       = {Zhang, C. and Postma, Johannes Auke and York, L. M. and
                      Lynch, J. P.},
      title        = {{R}oot foraging elicits niche complementarity-dependent
                      yield advantage in the ancient 'three sisters'
                      (maize/bean/squash) polyculture},
      journal      = {Annals of botany},
      volume       = {114},
      number       = {8},
      issn         = {1095-8290},
      address      = {Oxford},
      publisher    = {Oxford University Press},
      reportid     = {FZJ-2014-05128},
      pages        = {1719-1733},
      year         = {2014},
      abstract     = {Background and Aims Since ancient times in the Americas,
                      maize, bean and squash have been grown together in a
                      polyculture known as the ‘three sisters’. This
                      polyculture and its maize/bean variant have greater yield
                      than component monocultures on a land-equivalent basis. This
                      study shows that below-ground niche complementarity may
                      contribute to this yield advantage.Methods Monocultures and
                      polycultures of maize, bean and squash were grown in two
                      seasons in field plots differing in nitrogen (N) and
                      phosphorus (P) availability. Root growth patterns of
                      individual crops and entire polycultures were determined
                      using a modified DNA-based technique to discriminate roots
                      of different species.Key Results The maize/bean/squash and
                      maize/bean polycultures had greater yield and biomass
                      production on a land-equivalent basis than the monocultures.
                      Increased biomass production was largely caused by a
                      complementarity effect rather than a selection effect. The
                      differences in root crown architecture and vertical root
                      distribution among the components of the ‘three sisters’
                      suggest that these species have different, possibly
                      complementary, nutrient foraging strategies. Maize foraged
                      relatively shallower, common bean explored the vertical soil
                      profile more equally, while the root placement of squash
                      depended on P availability. The density of lateral root
                      branching was significantly greater for all species in the
                      polycultures than in the monocultures.Conclusions It is
                      concluded that species differences in root foraging
                      strategies increase total soil exploration, with consequent
                      positive effects on the growth and yield of these ancient
                      polycultures.},
      cin          = {IBG-2},
      ddc          = {580},
      cid          = {I:(DE-Juel1)IBG-2-20101118},
      pnm          = {89582 - Plant Science (POF2-89582) / HITEC - Helmholtz
                      Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate
                      Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406)},
      pid          = {G:(DE-HGF)POF2-89582 / G:(DE-Juel1)HITEC-20170406},
      typ          = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
      UT           = {WOS:000345825300013},
      pubmed       = {pmid:25274551},
      doi          = {10.1093/aob/mcu191},
      url          = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/156380},
}