Design strip intercropping systems
Problem:
Farming landscapes dominated by monocultures are vulnerable to pests and diseases, in part because of a general loss of biodiversity in the field.
Solution:
Strip intercropping creates spatial diversity within the field, which helps support biodiversity and related ecosystem services (such as biocontrol of pests and diseases).
Recomendations:
• Determine strip width based on available machines, and make strips as narrow as the machine can handle (narrower strips have stronger effect on disease suppression)
• Crop rotation determines which crops can be combined on a field, at least a one-year gap is required between neighbouring strips of the same crop to minimise risk of disease development
• Crop combination compatibility should be evaluated on aspects such as management type and intensity, growing period, ground cover and expected edge interactions i. Combine winter and spring crops, as they provide year-round refuge for beneficial insects on the field ii. Combine pest-sensitive crops with winter crops so beneficial insects have resources to over-winter and can be present in the field early in the season iii. Put ley crops next to intensive crops and use ley crops as a traffic lane to reduce soil compaction iv. Choose neighbour crops with complementary traits to avoid competition at strip edges
• Treat strips as a new management unit, like small fields.
More information: zenodo.org/record/3956363
DiverIMPACTS - Diversification through Rotation, Intercropping, Multiple Cropping, Promoted with Actors and value-Chains towards Sustainability
Ongoing | 2017-2022
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France