The advantages of intercropping to improve productivity in food and forage production – a review

Intercropping is an agricultural technique where many crops are grown together on the same field, and it is becoming more widely acknowledged for its ability to improve productivity in food and forage production. This farming method allows for the strategic integration of a profitable crop with cove...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPlant production science Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 155 - 169
Main Authors Toker, Pelin, Canci, Huseyin, Turhan, Irfan, Isci, Aslı, Scherzinger, Marvin, Kordrostami, Mojtaba, Yol, Engin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kyoto Taylor & Francis Ltd 02.07.2024
Taylor & Francis Group
Subjects
Adaptability
Agricultural practices
Agriculture
Agrochemicals
Arid regions
Cover crops
Crop interaction
Crop production
Crop yield
Crops
Farming systems
Food
Forage
Intercropping
land equivalent ratio
Mediterranean agriculture
Microorganisms
Plant growth
Productivity
Sustainable agriculture
sustainable farming
Water use
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Summary:Intercropping is an agricultural technique where many crops are grown together on the same field, and it is becoming more widely acknowledged for its ability to improve productivity in food and forage production. This farming method allows for the strategic integration of a profitable crop with cover or non-profitable crops to achieve reciprocal benefits, while also spreading advantages across different agricultural systems. Intercropping designs differ to attain greater crop yields, reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers, and enhance water-use efficiency, especially in the demanding circumstances of arid and semi-arid countries. This study examines new mechanisms via which intercropping enhances sustainable agriculture, including recent progress in ecological, genetic, and microbial interactions that enhance plant growth and resilience. The adaptability of the Mediterranean region, for varied agricultural methods is also assessed, with a particular focus on the possibilities for implementing intercropping systems. This study provides a thorough analysis of existing research, emphasizing the many advantages of intercropping and its contribution to the progress of sustainable agriculture.
ISSN:1343-943X
1349-1008
DOI:10.1080/1343943X.2024.2372878