Role of intercropping in increasing sustainable crop production and reducing the food gap in Egypt

Abstract

Intercropping – the growth of two or more crop species simultaneously in the same field area – has been widely practiced worldwide since ancient civilization. Intercropping provides an opportunity to harness and maximize available environmental resources, such as space, light, and nutrients, as well as to improve crop quantity and quality. The current trend in global agriculture is to use agricultural patterns that are highly productive, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Developing countries such as Egypt have shown considerable interest in intercropping to enhance productivity. In particular, cereal/legume intercropping is commonly used in Africa, as it has shown advantages in yield and nutrient acquisition under stress conditions. Moreover, intercropping provides a method to reduce soil erosion, fix atmospheric nitrogen, reduce the risk of crop failure, and increase land use efficiency.