Plant Gene and Trait 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 162-172 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 167 scientific (especially nitrogen fertilizer), it can also improve the soil structure, make the microorganisms in the soil more diverse and vigorous, and enhance the activity of enzymes, which is conducive to the cycling and utilization of nutrients (Zhang et al., 2021). In addition, changes in soil temperature and moisture can also affect the types and activities of microorganisms, which have a significant impact on the environment around plant roots and nutrient absorption (Zhang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2023). 7.3 Integrated microenvironment management strategies To make crops grow better, some comprehensive management methods can be adopted, such as pruning the tree canopy, reasonable intercropping, application of biochar, and zonal watering, etc. (Wang et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2022a). For instance, when mulberry and crops are planted together and combined with pruning methods, not only can soil erosion be reduced and soil fertility be enhanced, but also water can be retained, the number and variety of microorganisms in the soil can be increased, making the entire system more stable and environmentally friendly (Kaushal et al., 2024). In addition, by adjusting the pH value and carbon-nitrogen ratio of the soil, it can also help establish a more crop friendly microbial community (Wang et al., 2022b; Li et al., 2023). 8 Productivity and Resource Use Efficiency in Mulberry-Based Systems 8.1 Biomass partitioning and yield components Mulberry adjusts their growth patterns in different environments. For instance, when encountering drought or heavy metals in the soil, mulberry will devote more energy to root growth and increase the ratio of roots to stems (R/S), which can better resist environmental stress (Wang et al., 2022a; Zhang et al., 2023). When grown together with other crops (such as intercropping with alfalfa), the leaf, stem and crude protein content of mulberry can increase by 36.4%, 61.1% and 12.7% respectively, indicating a significant increase in yield. Furthermore, when mulberry is planted on hillsides or in marginal plots, the branches pruned each year can contain 17.0 to 22.5 tons of dry matter, which is more than that of many fast-growing trees or perennial grass crops (Lu et al., 2009). 8.2 Light-use efficiency and land equivalent ratio (LER) In the intercropping system, mulberry can also make better use of sunlight. Compared with monoculture, the light saturation point, light compensation point and maximum photosynthetic rate of mulberry under intercropping conditions have increased by 15.0%, 39.3% and 20.7% respectively. That is to say, it has a stronger ability to absorb and utilize sunlight. Meanwhile, the land equivalent ratio (LER) of the intercropping system reached 1.29, which indicates that more can be produced per unit of land. Under the condition of increased carbon dioxide concentration, the efficiency of photosynthesis and PSII light system of mulberry is also higher, which helps it grow faster and accumulate more dry matter (Shi et al., 2025). 8.3 Nutrient and water use efficiency under shade conditions Under conditions of weak sunlight or limited resources, the mulberry composite system can also perform well. For instance, by using a low-cost drip irrigation plus fertilization (LCDF) method, the water utilization efficiency can be increased by 61%, the fertilizer utilization efficiency by 63%, and 24% of water can be saved (Mahesh et al., 2020). During droughts, the water use efficiency of mulberry can even increase by 104% to 163%. Its roots can also better absorb nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, improving the drought resistance and yield of the entire system (Ren et al., 2025; Shi et al., 2025). In addition, planting mulberry together with other crops can also reduce soil erosion, prevent nutrients from being washed away, and at the same time increase the nitrogen, phosphorus content and enzyme activity in the soil, making the soil healthier (Piao et al., 2020; Kaushal et al., 2024). 9 Case Study: Light Regulation and Crop Response in a Mulberry-Soybean Intercropping System 9.1 Site description and system configuration In northern China, farmers often intercrop mulberry and soybeans to make better use of the land. This method is called the mulberry - soybean intercropping system. Generally, their positions are arranged in a band-like pattern or by alternating wide and narrow rows. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) grows tall and is perennial, while soybeans are harvested in the same year they are planted and are relatively short. When the two are staggered and planted
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