Background:

Agricultural management modifies the microclimate in the cultivated area, improving the physiology and productivity of plants.

Questions:

How does the microclimate, physiology and productivity of maize vary in a monoculture (M) and a milpa (polyculture, MFC) in shallow and deep soils of Yucatan?

Study species:

Zea mays L.

Study site and date:

Yucatán, Mexico; 2022

Methods:

Air and soil temperature, water vapor pressure deficit, dew formation and volumetric soil water content (CVA); CO2 assimilation (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), water use efficiency, chlorophyll content (CC), quantum efficiency, electron transport rate and non-photochemical dissipation in maize plants were measured at 40 and 75 days after planting, in milpas and monocultures in Peto (shallow soil with high stoniness) and Mama (deeper soils with low stoniness), Yucatán.

Results:

The soil temperature was up to 5 °C higher in Peto and 2 °C in Mama in M compared to MFC, where soil water was also up to 22 % higher than in M. Maize plants in Mama showed higher A and E than those of Peto; the plants in MFC in Peto had higher A, E and gs than those of M; the opposite was observed in Mama. The CRA and CC were higher in MFC plants in Peto.

Conclusions:

The microclimatic modification associated with the polyculture, and its effect on maize was related to the soil: the Milpa was more productive on stony soils and monoculture in deep soils. The CVA was higher in MFC.

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