Long-term increased grain yield and soil fertility from intercropping

Li, Xiao Fei; Wang, Zhi Gang; Bao, Xing; Sun, Jian Hao; Yang, Si Cun; Wang, Ping; Wang, Cheng Bao; Wu, Jiangqi; Liu, Xinru; Tian, Xiu Li; Wang, Yu; Li, Jian Peng; Wang, Yan; Xia, Hai Yong; Mei, Pei Pei; Wang, Xiao Feng; Zhao, Jian; Yu, Rui-Peng; Zhang, Wei Ping; Xian, Zong; Gui, Lin Guo; Callaway, Ragan M.; Tilman, David; Li, Long

doi:10.1038/s41893-021-00767-7

Cited by 197 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Are there ways that greater biodiversity or application of ecological principles could increase agricultural yields and cause less pollution, as is suggested by studies of intercropping (Li et al, 2021)? Might diverse mixtures of cover‐crop species enhance both weed control and soil fertility in agriculture?…”

Section: Unsolved Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extinction, climate change and the ecology of Homo sapiens

Tilman

2022

Journal of Ecology

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Because of human domination, the world faces two major environmental problems—species extinctions and climate change. The still‐elusive solutions to these global problems must address interlinked ecological, economic, political, ethical and cultural constraints and trade‐offs, and will require unprecedented international cooperation. Major advances in ecological research will be essential and will require that ecology become a more mechanistic and predictive science. Research advances in disciplines ranging from evolution and population ecology to community and ecosystem ecology could greatly contribute to the formulation of viable, sustainable solutions. Synthesis. Because solutions must also be equitable, ethical, economically viable and societally sustainable, it will be increasingly important for ecologists to be part of multidisciplinary teams that evaluate the full range of interlinked environmental and societal impacts of alternative potential policies.

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Section: Unsolved Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extinction, climate change and the ecology of Homo sapiens

Tilman

2022

Journal of Ecology

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“…Intercropping represents within-field diversity, is defined as growing two or more crop species simultaneously in the same field, and encompasses a range of practices including mixed intercropping (growing component crops simultaneously with no distinct row arrangement), row intercropping (growing component crops simultaneously in different rows), strip intercropping (growing component crops simultaneously in different strips), and relay intercropping (growing component crops with overlapping growth periods; Andrews and Kassam, 1976 ). Intercropping can provide valuable benefits, including increased yield ( Trenbath, 1974 ; Hauggaard-Nielsen et al, 2001 ; Nyfeler et al, 2009 ; Finn et al, 2013 ; Martin-Guay et al, 2018 ; Li et al, 2020 ), yield stability ( Rao and Willey, 1980 ; Raseduzzaman and Jensen, 2017 ), improved crop quality ( Sleugh et al, 2000 ; Bélanger et al, 2014 ), reduced pest and disease impacts ( Altieri, 1999 ; Boudreau, 2013 ; Gaba et al, 2015 ), improved weed management ( Hauggaard-Nielsen et al, 2001 ; Finn et al, 2013 ; Johnson et al, 2017 ; Connolly et al, 2018 ; Hoerning et al, 2020 ), reduced input needs ( Nyfeler et al, 2009 ; Gaba et al, 2015 ; Raskin et al, 2017 ), improved soil health ( Cong et al, 2015 ; Li et al, 2021 ), support for a wide range of native pollinators ( Eberle et al, 2015 ; Forcella et al, 2021 ), and a range of other ecosystem services, such as wildlife conservation, soil conservation, water quality improvements ( Weyers et al, 2021 ), and carbon sequestration ( Malézieux et al, 2009 ). Intraspecific diversity in the form of cultivar mixtures can provide benefits for productivity and resilience ( Reiss and Drinkwater, 2018 ), but this review focuses on interspecific diversity through intercropping.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Breeding for Intercropping in Temperate Field Crop Systems: A Review

et al. 2022

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Monoculture cropping systems currently dominate temperate agroecosystems. However, intercropping can provide valuable benefits, including greater yield stability, increased total productivity, and resilience in the face of pest and disease outbreaks. Plant breeding efforts in temperate field crops are largely focused on monoculture production, but as intercropping becomes more widespread, there is a need for cultivars adapted to these cropping systems. Cultivar development for intercropping systems requires a systems approach, from the decision to breed for intercropping systems through the final stages of variety testing and release. Design of a breeding scheme should include information about species variation for performance in intercropping, presence of genotype × management interaction, observation of key traits conferring success in intercropping systems, and the specificity of intercropping performance. Together this information can help to identify an optimal selection scheme. Agronomic and ecological knowledge are critical in the design of selection schemes in cropping systems with greater complexity, and interaction with other researchers and key stakeholders inform breeding decisions throughout the process. This review explores the above considerations through three case studies: (1) forage mixtures, (2) perennial groundcover systems (PGC), and (3) soybean-pennycress intercropping. We provide an overview of each cropping system, identify relevant considerations for plant breeding efforts, describe previous breeding focused on the cropping system, examine the extent to which proposed theoretical approaches have been implemented in breeding programs, and identify areas for future development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The practice of intercropping legumes and cereals is predicted to drive the sustainable intensification of food supply chains ( Finckh, 2008 ; Finckh et al, 2021 ; Li et al, 2021a , b ). Compared with sole crops, intercrops have great potential to improve yields and enhance land use efficiency ( Yang et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2020 , 2021a , b ; Weih et al, 2021 ). Additionally, legume–cereal intercrops can provide ecosystem services, such as (i) improved resource use efficiency ( Li et al, 2021b ; Zhang et al, 2021 ), particularly for nitrogen ( Jensen, 1996 ; Bedoussac and Justes, 2010a ; Naudin et al, 2010 ), (ii) greater biodiversity, including beneficial insects ( Brandmeier et al, 2021 ); (iii) pest and pathogen regulation ( Finckh and Wolfe, 2015 ; Zhang et al, 2019 ; Finckh et al, 2021 ); (iv) enhanced soil health ( Yang et al, 2019 ; Uwase et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ); and (v) healthy and nutritious food products ( Dwivedi et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared with sole crops, intercrops have great potential to improve yields and enhance land use efficiency ( Yang et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2020 , 2021a , b ; Weih et al, 2021 ). Additionally, legume–cereal intercrops can provide ecosystem services, such as (i) improved resource use efficiency ( Li et al, 2021b ; Zhang et al, 2021 ), particularly for nitrogen ( Jensen, 1996 ; Bedoussac and Justes, 2010a ; Naudin et al, 2010 ), (ii) greater biodiversity, including beneficial insects ( Brandmeier et al, 2021 ); (iii) pest and pathogen regulation ( Finckh and Wolfe, 2015 ; Zhang et al, 2019 ; Finckh et al, 2021 ); (iv) enhanced soil health ( Yang et al, 2019 ; Uwase et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ); and (v) healthy and nutritious food products ( Dwivedi et al, 2017 ). Although legume-based intercrops are not practiced widely in modern farming systems, they can contribute toward national and EU policy targets for reducing pesticide use, minimizing fertilizer losses, reversing biodiversity declines, and delivering secure and resilient food systems ( Iannetta et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supply Chain Perspectives on Breeding for Legume–Cereal Intercrops

et al. 2022

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Compared to sole crops, intercropping—especially of legumes and cereals—has great potential to improve crop yield and resource use efficiency, and can provide many other ecosystem services. However, the beneficial effects of intercrops are often greatly dependent on the end use as well as the specific species and genotypes being co-cultivated. In addition, intercropping imposes added complexity at different levels of the supply chain. While the need for developing crop genotypes for intercropping has long been recognized, most cultivars on the market are optimized for sole cropping and may not necessarily perform well in intercrops. This paper aims to place breeding targets for intercrop-adapted genotypes in a supply chain perspective. Three case studies of legumes and cereals intercropped for human consumption are used to identify desirable intercrop traits for actors across the supply chains, many of which are not targeted by traditional breeding for sole crops, including certain seed attributes, and some of which do not fit traditional breeding schemes, such as breeding for synchronized maturity and species synergies. Incorporating these traits into intercrop breeding could significantly reduce complexity along the supply chain. It is concluded that the widespread adoption and integration of intercrops will only be successful through the inclusion and collaboration of all supply chain actors, the application of breeding approaches that take into account the complexity of intercrop supply chains, and the implementation of diversification strategies in every process from field to fork.

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Long-term increased grain yield and soil fertility from intercropping

Cited by 197 publications

References 34 publications

Extinction, climate change and the ecology of Homo sapiens

Extinction, climate change and the ecology of Homo sapiens

Plant Breeding for Intercropping in Temperate Field Crop Systems: A Review

Supply Chain Perspectives on Breeding for Legume–Cereal Intercrops

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