Bean oat intercrop

Intercropping is a method of planting two or more crops in close proximity to each other, either in alternate rows or in the same row. The goal of intercropping is to maximize the use of available space and resources, such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. It can also help to improve soil health and increase crop diversity, which can provide a range of benefits including increased resistance to pests and diseases, and a longer harvest season.

There are several types of intercropping systems, including mixed intercropping, in which different crops are grown together in the same row or bed, and relay intercropping, in which one crop is grown for a period of time and then another crop is planted in the same space once the first crop has been harvested.

Intercropping can be an effective way to increase crop productivity and reduce the risks associated with growing a single crop. It can also provide a range of ecological benefits, including increased biodiversity, reduced soil erosion, and improved water retention. However, it can be challenging to manage intercropping systems, as the different crops may have different nutrient and water requirements, and care must be taken to avoid competition for resources.

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Impressive innovative commercial example of intercropping wheat and soya beans by Jason Mauck:

 

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Video example of an intercropping harvest. 

 

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Regenerative farming looks to optimise the use of the ecological system and environment, in order to benefit from the natural ecosystem services that they provide.

The major commodity crops in the UK are wheat, barley, oilseed rape, field beans, sugar beet and potatoes, but around half of agricultural land grows grass.   

Legume is the commonly used name for the family of flowering plants, Fabaceae. Any plant in the Fabaceae family that has leaves, stems and pods are referred to as a Legume.

This topic refers to the whole food supply chain, from farm fork, and all the products and services that contribute to food production.

Innovative Farmers, as part of their involvement in the Horizon Europe LEGUMINOSE project we will be setting up trials with Reading University to look at the benefits of intercropping in arable rotations.

Crop physiology is the study of how plants function and respond to their environment. It involves understanding the factors that affect crop growth and development, such as light, temperature, water, and nutrients, and the physiological mechanisms that plants use to adapt to their environment, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. 

Sustainable agriculture through legume-cereal intercropping.  The LEGUMINOSE project will provide science-based, farmer-led, and economically viable systems and techniques for legume-based intercropping. In the UK the Farm Living Labs will be run as an Innovative Farmers field lab [https://www.innovativefarmers.org/]. We are looking for 20 farms to take part in trials looking at yield and soil health benefits of intercrops from a range of crop mixes in organic, conventional and regenerative systems as well as in different locations across the UK. If you are interested contact Jerry [email protected] We'd also love to hear from farmers about their experiences of intercropping, or what prevents them from practicing it! Please help the project by completing this anonymous questionnaire (it takes about 15 minutes). Thankyou.  

This allows for a good exchange of services between these two crops, as the peas provide nitrogen to the cropping system while the wheat acts as a support for the pea.

Intercropping is known to have environmental and economic benefits, but which varieties work best together in a UK climate?

PGRO Chief Executive Roger Vickers talks us through one of PGRO's intercropping trial plots.

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