Diversifying crop rotation sequences with grain legume/cereal intercrops and legume/grass cover crops

Summary, in English

Diversification of cropping systems creates multiple benefits for the sustainable development of agroecosystems. Notably, introducing intercrops and cover crops in crop rotations allows ecient use of resources and promotes the synergy between ecosystem processes and functions (e.g. enhancing soil quality, preventing risk of build-up of pests and diseases). We used eld experiments to assess how grain yield, crop biomass and weed biomass in cereals were inuenced by introducing grain legume sole crops and legume/cereal intercrops as preceding crops, as well as by integrating cover crops during periods between the main crops. The results showed either insignicant or positive eects of the tested crop diversication measures on subsequent cereal productivity. Along with other known benets such as reduced need for nitrogen fertilisation, reduced risk of nutrient losses and soil erosion, our ndings support that increased crop diversity can improve resource use eciency and contribute to more sustainable agriculture.

• Author: Carolina Rodriguez; Georg Carlsson; Erik Steen Jensen
• Publishing year: 2021
• Language: English
• Pages: 43-48
• Publication/Series: Aspects of Applied Biology
• Volume: 146
• Document type: Conference paper
• Publisher: Association of Applied Biologists
• Keywords: Crop diversication, preceding crop, cover crops, intercropping, legumes
• Conference name: Intercropping for sustainability
• Conference date: 2021-01-18 - 2021-01-20
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0265-1491