Intercropping, the mixed growth of two or more crops, is practiced in >28 million hectares of areas sown annually in
China [1] and is common in other parts of the world, such as India, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa [2]. In general, multiple-cropping systems in China, including intercropping and related practices, have contributed to increased crop productivity due to a more effective utilization of resources compared to monoculture crops [3]. Facilitative root interactions in mixed cropping systems are of importance, since they enable nutritional improvement of crops grown in nutrient-poor soils and low-input agroecosystems [4]. Adapting such cropping systems through more efficient use of soil nutrients and a lower reliance on chemical fertilizers, is a promising strategy for the development of sustainable crop production while maintaining future food security. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), is an important food legume
capable of symbiotic N2 fixation. Peanut seeds contain a rich source of edible protein and represent the major oilseed crop in China, accounting for 30% of the total production. However, iron (Fe) deficiency frequently limits both crop yields and the quality of monocropped peanuts grown in the calcareous soils of
Northern China. Peanut/maize intercropping is a successful