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Review article2020Peer reviewed

Designing intercrops for high yield, yield stability and efficient use of resources: are there principles?

Stomph, TjeerdJan; Dordas, Christos; Baranger, Alain; de Rijk, Joshua; Dong, Bei; Evers, Jochem; Gu, Chunfeng; Li, Long; Simon, Johan; Jensen, Erik Steen; Wang, Qi; Wang, Yuyun; Wang, Zishen; Xu, Huasen; Zhang, Chaochun; Zhang, Lizhen; Zhang, Wei-Ping; Bedoussac, Laurent; van der Werf, Wopke

Abstract

Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of plant species in the same field for a considerable proportion of their growing periods. Interest in intercropping for sustainable agriculture is on the rise and the number of scientific studies on intercropping is strongly increasing. Here we assess the current status of knowledge on factors that determine yield, yield stability and resource use efficiency of intercropping as compared to sole cropping. Distinguishing resource use into acquisition and conversion shows that intercrops are mainly improving acquisition rather than conversion efficiency. We also make an attempt to quantify the importance of reduced biotic stresses through pests, diseases, and weeds. We particularly focus on blank spots in the knowledge and possible bias in existing literature and ask which research approaches are needed to advance the field and pave the way for a wider usage of intercropping in modern sustainable agriculture.

Published in

Advances in Agronomy
2020, Volume: 160, number: 1, pages: 1-50
Title: Advances in agronomy. Volume 160
ISBN: 978-0-12-820763-5
Publisher: Elsevier

    Sustainable Development Goals

    End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Agricultural Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2019.10.002

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105350