Effects of nitrogen supply levels on nitrogen uptake and inter-root bacterial diversity in a high-yielding maize intercropping system

In this study, based on six consecutive years of maize/soybean intercropping, we collected maize rhizosphere soil at the staminate stage to investigate the effects of intercropping and nitrogen application rates on crop nitrogen utilisation and microbial community composition and function, and correlate them with yields, to clarify the main ways and modes of yield enhancement in intercropping and the gradient changes generated by different nitrogen application rates.