Intercropping is an important method for maximizing solar, thermal and land resources to enhance land productivity, crop yield and economic benefits.This study investigated five maize and soybean intercropping models ( M4S6 (4∶6), M2S4 (2∶4),M4S4 (4∶4), maize monocropping (MCK) and soybean monocropping (SCK)),to assess their effects on dry matter accumulation and distribution, yield competition, and land equivalent ratio (LER).The results showed that the intercropped maize exhibited higher dry matter accumulation compared to monocropped maize across different growth stages, and the soybean dry matter accumulation was higher in M4S6 and M2S4 intercropping models than in monocropped soybeans.The nutrient dry matter remobilization of intercropping treatment was greater than that of monocropping.Maize and soybean intercropping significantly increased the nutrient dry matter remobilization, with treatment M2S4>M4S6>M4S4>CK.However, the remobilization efficiency of maize and soybean intercropping treatment was lower than that of the conversion rate, the maize’s remobilization efficiency was lower than that of soybean’s, althrough its conversion rate was significantly higher. In intercropping treatments, a higher proportion of dry matter was distributed to maize ear compared to monoculture.Treatment M4S6 showed a particularly significant increase in ear dry matter distribution. Conversely, during pod-setting,the proportion of dry matter distribution to the pods of soybean was lower in intercropping than in monoculture. but significantly increased at maturity, expecially in treatment M4S6,.which exhibited the highest distribution proportion to pods.The yield of M2S4, M4S6 and M4S4 was 70.81%, 84.58% and 66.33% of monocropping maize (MCK),respectively.For soybean, the yield of M2S4, M4S6 and M4S4 was 9.89%, 17.97% and 14.18% of monocropping soybean (SCK), respectively.The yield relative competition of M4S4 was extremely competitive, while that of M4S6 and M2S4 was significantly lower compared to M4S4.The yield land equivalent ratio of M4S6, M2S4 and M4S4 was greater than 1, with M4S6 having the the highest LER, followed by M2S4. Compared with M4S4, M4S6,M2S4 increased the LER by 19.42% and 12.62% , respectively.The economic benefits increased by 19.41% and 15.75% compared with MCK, and ,by 113.01% and 106.47% compared to monocropping soybean.Overall,compared with other intercropping treatments, M4S6 is the most beneficial intercropping pattern for exploiting thing advantages of maize and soybean intercropping and improving land productivity. |