Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Anitrosa Innazent

Abstract:
Intercropping is a farming practice of growing two or more crop species or genotypes, on the same field. On the fringes of modern intensive agriculture, intercropping could be one route to deliver sustainable intensification by allowing genuine yield gains without increased inputs. It has the potential to increase long term sustainability in food production. While some of the mechanisms by which they deliver agronomic benefits are understood, new knowledge from ecology and breeding offer considerable potential to improve this system. Ecological advances include better understanding of the context- dependency of interactions, the mechanism behind disease and pest avoidance and links between above and below ground system. Selecting crop combination with traits that maximize positive and minimize negative interaction and breeding especially for combination of desirable traits are two approaches for improving intercropping. Precision farming, conservation agriculture and climate smart agriculture constitutes the emerging modern innovative concepts in crop production, promoting crop diversification to build a climate resilient farming community. The biggest obstacle in adopting intercropping systems is to conceptualize the planting, cultivation, fertilization, spraying and particularly harvesting of more than one crop in the same field. Rapid improvements are also possible through the development of new agronomic practices, including mechanization of intercropping systems and improved nutrient management. Applying all of these approaches will need a better exchange of information among ecologists, environmental scientists, agronomists, crop scientists, soil scientists and ultimately social scientists, so that the full potential of intercropping as a sustainable farming system can be realized.