Intercropping can effectively improve crop performance and soil health by utilising light complementarities and ecological niche differences between plants. This study assessed the mechanism of intercropping dominance between Eleutherococcus senticosus and Arisaema amurense from the perspective of light–plant–soil microbial interactions. In this study, we designed three intercropping patterns and analyzed the effects of intercropping on the antioxidant enzyme activities, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, tuber active ingredient content, soil properties and microbial community composition with A. amurense monocultured. Results showed that Intercropping significantly reduced oxidative stress in A. amurense by decreasing malondialdehyde (16.1%–36.2%) in the leaves. Meanwhile, intercropping significantly increased chlorophyll content, improved photosystem II efficiency, and enhanced Rubisco activity, boosting net photosynthetic efficiency by 39.4%–59.3% in A. amurense . In terms of active ingredients, all three intercropping patterns significantly increased the content of guanosine, adenosine, total flavonoid and chlorogenic acid contents. Intercropping altered soil properties by reducing total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen while increasing ammonium nitrogen. In terms of soil microbial, intercropping reduced the Shannon and Simpson indices and increased the relative abundance of the beneficial microorganisms ( RB41 , Cladorrhinum , and Podospora ) and significantly decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi ( Cladosporium and Fusarium ) In conclusion, intercropping can significantly promote the accumulation of active ingredients in A. amurense by improving its photosynthetic characteristics, optimising soil nutrient status and altering microbial community structure.
Zhu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.