Intercropping—A Low Input Agricultural Strategy for Food and Environmental Security
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Date
2021
Authors
Maitra, Sagar
Hossain, Akbar
Brestic, Marian
Skalicky, Milan
Ondrisik, Peter
Gitari, Harun
Brahmachari, Koushik
Shankar, Tanmoy
Bhadra, Preetha
Palai, Jnana Bharati
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Intensive agriculture is based on the use of high-energy inputs and quality planting materials
with assured irrigation, but it has failed to assure agricultural sustainability because of creation
of ecological imbalance and degradation of natural resources. On the other hand, intercropping
systems, also known as mixed cropping or polyculture, a traditional farming practice with diversified
crop cultivation, uses comparatively low inputs and improves the quality of the agro-ecosystem.
Intensification of crops can be done spatially and temporally by the adoption of the intercropping
system targeting future need. Intercropping ensures multiple benefits like enhancement of
yield, environmental security, production sustainability and greater ecosystem services. In intercropping,
two or more crop species are grown concurrently as they coexist for a significant part of
the crop cycle and interact among themselves and agro-ecosystems. Legumes as component crops
in the intercropping system play versatile roles like biological N fixation and soil quality improvement,
additional yield output including protein yield, and creation of functional diversity. But
growing two or more crops together requires additional care and management for the creation of
less competition among the crop species and efficient utilization of natural resources. Research evidence
showed beneficial impacts of a properly managed intercropping system in terms of resource
utilization and combined yield of crops grown with low-input use. The review highlights the principles
and management of an intercropping system and its benefits and usefulness as a low-input
agriculture for food and environmental security.
Description
An Article Published in Agronomy
Keywords
Food, Environment, Intercropping, Security, Sustainability
Citation
Maitra, S.; Hossain, A.; Brestic, M.; Skalicky, M.; Ondrisik, P.; Gitari, H.; Brahmachari, K.; Shankar, T.; Bhadra, P.; Palai, J.B.; et al. Intercropping–A Low Input Agricultural Strategy for Food and Environmental Security. Agronomy 2021, 11, 343. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy11020343