Study on root length density and root surface area density distribution characteristics of winter wheat in jujube/wheat system in Southern Xinjiang

In the maturity of winter wheat, root samples of sole winter wheat, winter wheat intercropped with 3/5-year-old jujube tree were collected by auger methods, the root length density and root surface area density of root samples were analyzed by Win-SURFER V.8.0. Economic yields and above-ground biomass were examined in the maturity of winter wheat. The result showed that compared with sole winter wheat, the yield (P=0.0003) and aboveground biomass (P=0.001) of intercropped winter wheat decreased significantly in jujube/wheat intercropping system. With the increase of soil depth, both root length density and root surface area density of sole and intercropped winter wheat decreased gradually. Root length density of winter wheat intercropped 3/5-year-old jujube decreased by 30.1%, 46.2% respectively compared with sole winter wheat in 20~60 cm soil layer; root surface area density of winter wheat intercropped 3/5-year-old jujube tree decreased by 18.7%, 31.3% respectively compared with sole winter wheat in 20~40 cm soil layer. The roots of jujube tree and winter wheat had niche overlap in 20~60 cm soil layer in jujube/wheat system. 5-year-old jujube tree had a bigger impact on root length density and root surface area density of intercropped winter wheat compared with 3-year-old jujube tree.