Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology

Rob W Brooker; Alison E Bennett; Wen-Feng Cong; Tim J Daniell; Timothy S George; Paul D Hallett; Cathy Hawes; Pietro P M Iannetta; Hamlyn G Jones; Alison J Karley; Long Li; Blair M McKenzie; Robin J Pakeman; Eric Paterson; Christian Schöb; Jianbo Shen; Geoff Squire; Christine A Watson; Chaochun Zhang; Fusuo Zhang; Junling Zhang; Philip J White

doi:10.1111/nph.13132

Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology

Rob W Brooker, Alison E Bennett, Wen-Feng Cong, Tim J Daniell, Timothy S George, Paul D Hallett, Cathy Hawes, Pietro P M Iannetta, Hamlyn G Jones, Alison J Karley, Long Li, Blair M McKenzie, Robin J Pakeman, Eric Paterson, Christian Schöb, Jianbo Shen, Geoff Squire, Christine A Watson, Chaochun Zhang, Fusuo ZhangJunling Zhang, Philip J White

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

785 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Intercropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species, or genotypes, growing together and coexisting for a time. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping is important in many subsistence or low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems. By allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs, or greater stability of yield with decreased inputs, intercropping could be one route to delivering ‘sustainable intensification’. We discuss how recent knowledge from agronomy, plant physiology and ecology can be combined with the aim of improving intercropping systems. Recent advances in agronomy and plant physiology include better understanding of the mechanisms of interactions between crop genotypes and species – for example, enhanced resource availability through niche complementarity. Ecological advances include better understanding of the context-dependency of interactions, the mechanisms behind disease and pest avoidance, the links between above- and below-ground systems, and the role of microtopographic variation in coexistence. This improved understanding can guide approaches for improving intercropping systems, including breeding crops for intercropping. Although such advances can help to improve intercropping systems, we suggest that other topics also need addressing. These include better assessment of the wider benefits of intercropping in terms of multiple ecosystem services, collaboration with agricultural engineering, and more effective interdisciplinary research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	107-117
Number of pages	11
Journal	New Phytologist
Volume	206
Issue number	1
Early online date	3 Nov 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13132
Publication status	Published - Apr 2015

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
This paper arose, in part, from the meeting ‘Intercropping and Food Security’, Dundee, UK, 20–21 March 2013, facilitated through the UK's Science and Innovation Network's Global Partnerships Fund. This work was also supported by the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) through Themes 1, 3, 5 and 7 of their Strategic Research Programme, and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31210103906, 31330070, 30925024, 31270477) and the Innovative Group Grant of the National Science Foundation of China (31121062). C.S. was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (PA00P3_136474 and PZ00P3_148261). Thanks are also extended to Chantel Davies (Stockbridge Technology Centre, UK).

Keywords

agriculture
ecosystem services
intercropping
organismal interactions
resource use
soil biodiversity
sustainable intensification

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Cite this

Brooker, R. W., Bennett, A. E., Cong, W.-F., Daniell, T. J., George, T. S., Hallett, P. D., Hawes, C., Iannetta, P. P. M., Jones, H. G., Karley, A. J., Li, L., McKenzie, B. M., Pakeman, R. J., Paterson, E., Schöb, C., Shen, J., Squire, G., Watson, C. A., Zhang, C., ... White, P. J. (2015). Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology. New Phytologist, 206(1), 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13132

Brooker, RW, Bennett, AE, Cong, W-F, Daniell, TJ, George, TS, Hallett, PD, Hawes, C, Iannetta, PPM, Jones, HG, Karley, AJ, Li, L, McKenzie, BM, Pakeman, RJ, Paterson, E, Schöb, C, Shen, J, Squire, G, Watson, CA, Zhang, C, Zhang, F, Zhang, J & White, PJ 2015, 'Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology', New Phytologist, vol. 206, no. 1, pp. 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13132

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abstract = "Intercropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species, or genotypes, growing together and coexisting for a time. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping is important in many subsistence or low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems. By allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs, or greater stability of yield with decreased inputs, intercropping could be one route to delivering {\textquoteleft}sustainable intensification{\textquoteright}. We discuss how recent knowledge from agronomy, plant physiology and ecology can be combined with the aim of improving intercropping systems. Recent advances in agronomy and plant physiology include better understanding of the mechanisms of interactions between crop genotypes and species – for example, enhanced resource availability through niche complementarity. Ecological advances include better understanding of the context-dependency of interactions, the mechanisms behind disease and pest avoidance, the links between above- and below-ground systems, and the role of microtopographic variation in coexistence. This improved understanding can guide approaches for improving intercropping systems, including breeding crops for intercropping. Although such advances can help to improve intercropping systems, we suggest that other topics also need addressing. These include better assessment of the wider benefits of intercropping in terms of multiple ecosystem services, collaboration with agricultural engineering, and more effective interdisciplinary research.",

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author = "Brooker, {Rob W} and Bennett, {Alison E} and Wen-Feng Cong and Daniell, {Tim J} and George, {Timothy S} and Hallett, {Paul D} and Cathy Hawes and Iannetta, {Pietro P M} and Jones, {Hamlyn G} and Karley, {Alison J} and Long Li and McKenzie, {Blair M} and Pakeman, {Robin J} and Eric Paterson and Christian Sch{\"o}b and Jianbo Shen and Geoff Squire and Watson, {Christine A} and Chaochun Zhang and Fusuo Zhang and Junling Zhang and White, {Philip J}",

note = "Acknowledgements This paper arose, in part, from the meeting {\textquoteleft}Intercropping and Food Security{\textquoteright}, Dundee, UK, 20–21 March 2013, facilitated through the UK's Science and Innovation Network's Global Partnerships Fund. This work was also supported by the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) through Themes 1, 3, 5 and 7 of their Strategic Research Programme, and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31210103906, 31330070, 30925024, 31270477) and the Innovative Group Grant of the National Science Foundation of China (31121062). C.S. was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (PA00P3_136474 and PZ00P3_148261). Thanks are also extended to Chantel Davies (Stockbridge Technology Centre, UK).",

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AU - George, Timothy S

AU - Hallett, Paul D

AU - Hawes, Cathy

AU - Iannetta, Pietro P M

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AU - Pakeman, Robin J

AU - Paterson, Eric

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AU - Watson, Christine A

AU - Zhang, Chaochun

AU - Zhang, Fusuo

AU - Zhang, Junling

AU - White, Philip J

N1 - Acknowledgements This paper arose, in part, from the meeting ‘Intercropping and Food Security’, Dundee, UK, 20–21 March 2013, facilitated through the UK's Science and Innovation Network's Global Partnerships Fund. This work was also supported by the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) through Themes 1, 3, 5 and 7 of their Strategic Research Programme, and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31210103906, 31330070, 30925024, 31270477) and the Innovative Group Grant of the National Science Foundation of China (31121062). C.S. was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (PA00P3_136474 and PZ00P3_148261). Thanks are also extended to Chantel Davies (Stockbridge Technology Centre, UK).

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N2 - Intercropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species, or genotypes, growing together and coexisting for a time. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping is important in many subsistence or low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems. By allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs, or greater stability of yield with decreased inputs, intercropping could be one route to delivering ‘sustainable intensification’. We discuss how recent knowledge from agronomy, plant physiology and ecology can be combined with the aim of improving intercropping systems. Recent advances in agronomy and plant physiology include better understanding of the mechanisms of interactions between crop genotypes and species – for example, enhanced resource availability through niche complementarity. Ecological advances include better understanding of the context-dependency of interactions, the mechanisms behind disease and pest avoidance, the links between above- and below-ground systems, and the role of microtopographic variation in coexistence. This improved understanding can guide approaches for improving intercropping systems, including breeding crops for intercropping. Although such advances can help to improve intercropping systems, we suggest that other topics also need addressing. These include better assessment of the wider benefits of intercropping in terms of multiple ecosystem services, collaboration with agricultural engineering, and more effective interdisciplinary research.

AB - Intercropping is a farming practice involving two or more crop species, or genotypes, growing together and coexisting for a time. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping is important in many subsistence or low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems. By allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs, or greater stability of yield with decreased inputs, intercropping could be one route to delivering ‘sustainable intensification’. We discuss how recent knowledge from agronomy, plant physiology and ecology can be combined with the aim of improving intercropping systems. Recent advances in agronomy and plant physiology include better understanding of the mechanisms of interactions between crop genotypes and species – for example, enhanced resource availability through niche complementarity. Ecological advances include better understanding of the context-dependency of interactions, the mechanisms behind disease and pest avoidance, the links between above- and below-ground systems, and the role of microtopographic variation in coexistence. This improved understanding can guide approaches for improving intercropping systems, including breeding crops for intercropping. Although such advances can help to improve intercropping systems, we suggest that other topics also need addressing. These include better assessment of the wider benefits of intercropping in terms of multiple ecosystem services, collaboration with agricultural engineering, and more effective interdisciplinary research.

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DO - 10.1111/nph.13132

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Improving intercropping: a synthesis of research in agronomy, plant physiology and ecology

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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