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

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 206(1), P. 107 - 117

Published: Nov. 3, 2014

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

Language: Английский

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Multiple benefits of legumes for agriculture sustainability: an overview

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: Jan. 19, 2017

Food security, lowering the risk of climate change and meeting increasing demand for energy will increasingly be critical challenges in years to come. Producing sustainably is therefore becoming central agriculture food systems. Legume crops could play an important role this context by delivering multiple services line with sustainability principles. In addition serving as fundamental, worldwide source high-quality feed, legumes contribute reduce emission greenhouse gases, they release 5–7 times less GHG per unit area compared other crops; allow sequestration carbon soils values estimated from 7.21 g kg−1 DM, 23.6 versus 21.8 C year; induce a saving fossil inputs system thanks N fertilizer reduction, corresponding 277 kg ha−1 CO2 year. Legumes also competitive and, due their environmental socioeconomic benefits, introduced modern cropping systems increase crop diversity use external inputs. They perform well conservation systems, intercropping which are very developing countries low-input low-yield farming fix atmospheric nitrogen, soil organic matter facilitate nutrients' circulation water retention. Based on these functions, legume have high potential agriculture, being functional either growing or residue.

Language: Английский

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Intercropping with legume for agroecological cropping systems: Complementarity and facilitation processes and the importance of soil microorganisms. A review

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 240, P. 148 - 161

Published: Feb. 27, 2017

Language: Английский

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Plant Functional Traits: Soil and Ecosystem Services

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 22(5), P. 385 - 394

Published: Feb. 14, 2017

Language: Английский

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A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 232(3), P. 973 - 1122

Published: Oct. 5, 2021

Summary In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact environment, ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep generating cutting‐edge, meaningful integrated knowledge. Consideration below‐ground components ecosystem studies has been consistently called for decades, but methodology is disparate sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based collective effort large team experts, will improve trait comparisons across integration information databases by providing standardised methods controlled vocabularies. It meant be used not only as starting point students scientists who desire working ecosystems, also experts consolidating broadening views multiple aspects ecology. Beyond classical compilation measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from literature provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining entities giving keys dissection, classification naming beyond fine‐root vs coarse‐root approach; (2) considering specificity produce sound laboratory field data; (3) describing typical, overlooked steps studying roots (e.g. handling, cleaning storage); (4) gathering metadata necessary interpretation results reuse. Most importantly, all traits introduced with some degree ecological that foundation understanding meaning, typical use uncertainties, methodological conceptual perspectives future research. Considering this, urge readers solely extract protocol measurements this work, take moment read reflect extensive contained broader guide ecology, including sections I–VII introductions each section description. Finally, it critical understand major aim help break down barriers between subdisciplines ecology ecophysiology, broaden researchers’ study create favourable conditions inception comprehensive experiments role functioning.

Language: Английский

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Hidden miners – the roles of cover crops and soil microorganisms in phosphorus cycling through agroecosystems

Plant and Soil, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 434(1-2), P. 7 - 45

Published: Oct. 27, 2018

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient in many agroecosystems and costly fertilizer inputs can cause negative environmental impacts. Cover crops constitute promising management option for sustainable intensification of agriculture. However, their interactions with the soil microbial community, which key driver P cycling, effects on following crop, have not yet been systematically assessed. We conducted meta-analysis published field studies cover focusing plant-microbe interactions. describe several distinct, simultaneous mechanisms benefits main crop. Decomposition dynamics, governed by concentration, are critical transfer from crop residues to may enhance community providing legacy increased mycorrhizal abundance, biomass P, phosphatase activity. generally most effective systems low available access 'unavailable' pools. availability difficult detect standard tests, except increases after use Lupinus sp. Agricultural (i.e. species selection, tillage, fertilization) improve effects. In summary, cropping has potential tighten cycling agricultural under different conditions, increasing nutrition yield.

Language: Английский

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Designing mixtures of varieties for multifunctional agriculture with the help of ecology. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 37(2)

Published: April 1, 2017

Language: Английский

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Effect of aboveground and belowground interactions on the intercrop yields in maize-soybean relay intercropping systems

Field Crops Research, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 203, P. 16 - 23

Published: Dec. 16, 2016

Language: Английский

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Linking root exudation to belowground economic traits for resource acquisition

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 233(4), P. 1620 - 1635

Published: Nov. 11, 2021

The concept of a root economics space (RES) is increasingly adopted to explore trait variation and belowground resource-acquisition strategies. Much progress has been made on interactions morphology mycorrhizal symbioses. However, exudation, with significant carbon (C) cost (c. 5-21% total photosynthetically fixed C) enhance resource acquisition, remains missing link in this RES. Here, we argue that incorporating exudation into the structure RES key holistic understanding soil nutrient acquisition. We highlight different functional roles exudates phosphorus (P) nitrogen (N) Thereafter, synthesize emerging evidence illustrates how interacts symbioses at level species individual plant contrasting patterns evolved P-impoverished vs N-limited environments. Finally, propose new conceptual framework, integrating three groups traits better capture complexity Such deeper integrated dynamic morphology, will provide valuable insights mechanisms underlying coexistence for sustainable managed systems.

Language: Английский

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Crop acquisition of phosphorus, iron and zinc from soil in cereal/legume intercropping systems: a critical review

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 117(3), P. 363 - 377

Published: Jan. 8, 2016

Background Phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential elements for plant growth development, but their availability in soil is often limited. Intercropping contributes to increased P, Fe Zn uptake thereby increases yield improves grain nutritional quality ultimately human health. A better understanding of how intercropping leads will help improve P-fertilizer-use efficiency agronomic biofortification. Scope This review synthesizes the literature on legumes with cereals acquisition from recapitulates what known about root-to-shoot nutrient translocation, plant-internal remobilization allocation grains. Conclusions Direct interspecific facilitation involves below-ground processes which increase bioavailability while companion benefit. has been demonstrated verified using isotopic tracing molecular analysis. The same methodological approaches field studies should be used explore direct P facilitation. Both niche complementarity contribute intercropping. Niche may also acquisition, an aspect poorly understood. Interspecific mobilization sparingly soluble soil, however, not only determinants concentrations Grain translocation roots shoots further influence these nutrients

Language: Английский

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