Intercropping systems can flexibly use resources such as sunlight, heat, water, and nutrients in time and space, improve crop yield and land utilization rates, effectively reduce continuous cropping obstacles and the occurrence of diseases and insect pests, and control the growth of weeds. Thus, intercropping is a safe and efficient ecological planting mode. The legume–cereal intercropping system is the most common planting combination. Legume crops fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through their symbiotic nitrogen fixation abilities, and the fixed nitrogen can be transferred to and utilized by cereal crops in various ways. The symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency of legume crops was improved by reducing the inhibition of soil nitrogen on nitrogenase activity through competitive absorption of soil nitrogen. However, the effects of nitrogen transformation and distribution in intercropping systems and microbial community structure characteristics on nitrogen transfer need to be further explored. In this review, (ⅰ) we present the transformation and distribution of nitrogen in the legume–cereal intercropping system; (ⅱ) we describe the soil microbial community characteristics in intercropping systems; and (ⅲ) we discuss the advantages of using modern biological molecular techniques to study soil microorganisms. We conclude that intercropping can increase the diversity of soil microorganisms, and the interaction between different plants has an important impact on the diversity and composition of the bacterial and fungal communities. The extensive application of modern biological molecular techniques in soil microbial research and the great contribution of intercropping systems to sustainable agriculture are particularly emphasized in this review.

Intercropping systems can flexibly use resources such as sunlight, heat, water, and nutrients in time and space, improve crop yield and land utilization rates, effectively reduce continuous cropping obstacles and the occurrence of diseases and insect pests, and control the growth of weeds. Thus, intercropping is a safe and efficient ecological planting mode. The legume–cereal intercropping system is the most common planting combination. Legume crops fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through their symbiotic nitrogen fixation abilities, and the fixed nitrogen can be transferred to and utilized by cereal crops in various ways. The symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency of legume crops was improved by reducing the inhibition of soil nitrogen on nitrogenase activity through competitive absorption of soil nitrogen. However, the effects of nitrogen transformation and distribution in intercropping systems, and microbial community structure characteristics on nitrogen transfer need to be further explored. In this review, ⅰ) we present the transformation and distribution of nitrogen in the legume–cereal intercropping system; ⅱ) we describe the soil microbial community characteristics in intercropping systems; and ⅲ) we discuss the advantages of using modern biological molecular techniques to study soil microorganisms. We conclude that intercropping can increase the diversity of soil microorganisms, and the interaction between different plants has an important impact on the diversity and composition of the bacterial and fungal communities. The extensive application of modern biological molecular techniques in soil microbial research and the great contribution of intercropping systems to sustainable agriculture are particularly emphasized in this review.

Poverty and inequality remain outstanding challenges in many global regions. Understanding the underlying social and economic conditions is important in formulating poverty eradication strategies. Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Night-Time Light (NTL) images and multidimensional socioeconomic data between 2012 and 2018, this study measured regional poverty and inequality in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou city cluster in the People’s Republic of China. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Theil index decomposition method were used to establish an Integrated Poverty Index (IPI) and a regional inequality index, respectively. The results indicated that: (1) The poverty index is affected by the geographical location, policies, and resources of a district/county. A significant logarithmic correlation model between VIIRS Average Light Index (ALI) and IPI was established. (2) The Theil index derived from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicators showed that overall inequality and between-prefecture inequality declined, while within-prefecture inequality remained unchanged. In terms of the contributions to regional inequality, the contribution of within-prefecture inequality is the largest. The results indicated that Suomi National Polar Partnership/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP/VIIRS) night-time data can help to perform district/county-level poverty assessments at small and medium spatial scales, although the evaluation effect on regional inequality is slightly lower.

Flue-cured tobacco (FCT) is an economical raw material whose quality affects the quality and cost of the derived product. However, the time-consuming and inefficient spontaneous aging is the primary process for improving the FCT quality in the industry. In this study, a function-driven co-culture with functional microorganisms was built in response to the quality-driven need for less irritation and more aroma in FCT. The previous study has found that Bacillus kochii SC could degrade starch and protein to reduce tobacco irritation and off-flavors. The Filobasidium magnum F7 with high lipoxygenase activity was screened out for degrading higher fatty acid esters and terpenoids to promote the aroma and flavor of FCT. Co-cultivation with strain SC and F7 obtained better quality improvement than mono-culture at an initial inoculation ratio of 1:3 for 2 days, representing a significant breakthrough in efficiency and a reduction in production costs compared to the more than 2 years required for the spontaneous aging process. Through the analysis of microbial diversity, predicted flora functions, enzyme activities and volatile compositions within the mono- and co-cultivation, our study showed the formation of a function-driven co-culture between two strains through functional division of labor and nutritional feeding. Herein, the function-driven co-culture via bioaugmentation will become an increasingly implemented approach for the tobacco industry.

Low-impact development (LID) is generally regarded as an effective solution for urban stormwater management. However, the effects of LID on storm flooding on an urban drainage systems scale have not been fully understood under different rainfall characteristics. In this paper, using a high-density residential catchment in China as a case study, the PCSWMM model is applied to simulate the control effects of seven LID land layout scenarios on water quantity and quality of rainfall runoff under different rainfall return periods, durations, and locations of peak rainfall intensity. The simulations indicated the following results: (1) All seven LID scenarios are more effective in flood control during smaller rainfall return periods and longer rainfall duration storms, and the influence of locations of peak rainfall intensity on the rainfall runoff is not obvious. (2) Permeable pavement is the best choice in single LID measures, and the combination of permeable pavement, vegetative swale, and a green roof is the best choice among combined LID layouts. This paper gives insight into the performance of LID designs under different rainfall characteristics, which is essential for effective sponge city construction.