Intercropping induces physiological and morphological plasticity in oilseed rape and barley under drought stress

Intercropping is an agricultural practice that can improve crop yield due to better availability of resources, including water. There are few studies, however, addressing the physiological mechanisms behind this phenomenon. In work oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare were cultivated either as monocrop (MC) or intercrop (IC) under well-watered (WW) drought stress (DS) conditions in a growth chamber. After eight weeks DS, leaf relative water content was higher IC compared with MC plants both species DS-induced senescence old leaves considerably postponed rape. Intercropped showed elevated levels photosynthesis rate, superior accumulation organic osmolytes but loss counterparts DS conditions. barley, less transpiration, increased root : shoot ratio osmolyte observed The use efficiency than Our data intercropping reliable for cultivation arid semi-arid regions rainfed