Cereal–Legume Intercropping Systems

Abstract

This chapter describes the various aspects of cereal-legume intercropping systems. Intercropping is the growing of two or more crop species simultaneously in the same field during a growing season. The intercropping of legumes with cereals offers scope for developing energy-efficient and sustainable agriculture. The main types of intercropping include mixed intercropping, row intercropping, and strip intercropping. Crop combinations differ with geographical location and there may be intercropping of tree crops, intercropping of tree and field crops, or intercropping of field crops. Combinations of crops are determined primarily by the length of the growing season and the adaptation of crops to particular environments. Different indices have been suggested for evaluating productivity and efficiency per unit area of land of cereal-legume intercrop systems. These include comparisons of absolute yields, protein yields, caloric equivalent, and in economic terms, gross returns from intercrops and sole crops. Differences in competitive ability affect the relative performance of component crops and thus the land equivalent ratio values of different cereal-legume intercrop systems. It is found that phosphorus is a major nutrient that determines the production potential of most grain legumes usually intercropped with cereals. © 1987, Academic Press Inc. All rights reserved.