Principles of design of intercropping (ReMIX Practice abstract)

Summary

Outcome
Tracking farmers’ innovations to:
- reveal the diversity of mixtures cultivated
- show links between objectives and practices
- develop this practice.
Practical recommendations
- Intercropping can increase resource use efficiency (light, nitrogen, water, etc.): choose species/cultivars with complementary temporal patterns, morphological and functional traits (height, habit, root system, etc.)
- Facilitating harvest and reducing losses: choose species/cultivars with robust stems to prevent the lodging of the associated crop (e.g. Barley-pea, camelina-lentil)
- Ensuring that at least one species is always harvested: choose species/cultivars with complementary growth requirements and sensitivities (diseases, insects, extreme weather, ripening dates, etc.) (e.g. Faba bean-wheat)
- Harvesting a supplementary crop, achieving two crop cycles in one year: choose species with different life cycles to be sown simultaneously and harvested separately (e.g. Rapeseed-buckwheat)
Practical testing/ Farmers’ experiences
Tracking farmers’ innovations revealed different practices and sub-objectives with the aim of 1) increasing yield and stability, 2) controlling weeds and 3) increasing nitrogen supply in the cropping systems and then nitrogen self-sufficiency.