Improvement of iron nutrition of chlorosis peanut by intercropping with wheat

A combined rhizo-box experiment with quartz sand-soil, simulating field observation of improving Fe-deficient chlorosis of peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) by intercropping with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted under the controlled environmental conditions to examine the effects of peanut-wheat intercropping on Fe nutrition of peanut in calcareous soils. The results show that the high pH and high content of CaCO₃ are the main reasons for Fe-deficient chlorosis of peanut in calcareous soils. Fe-deficient chlorosis in young leaves of peanuts is obviously improved when chlorosis peanuts is intercropped with wheat. For the peanut intercropped with wheat for 16 days, the concentrations of chlorophyll and active Fe in young leaves and available Fe content in rhizosphere soils are prominently increased compared with monocropping. The results suggest that improvement of Fe nutrition of peanut may be related to the release of phytosiderophores from Fe-deficient wheat roots.