Impact of Cereal+legume Intercropping Systems on Productivity and Soil Health -A Review

Abstract

Intercropping involves growing of two or more cropsin definite row proportion in the same field in a given season.Presently, the practice of intercropping is mostly followed over sole cropping by small holderfarmers especially in rainfed farming, due to uncertain yield in sole cropping following abiotic stresses like drought, temperature, disease/pest incidence etc. Intercropping offers many benefits likeinsurance against total crop failure, assured or increased yield and biomass, less weed, pest and diseasemenace. The choice of compatible crops for an intercropping system depends on several factors like growth habit, ideotype, land, light, water and fertilizer utilization. In this article, we have focused only on cereal+legume intercropping systems as their associationhelp in improves soil fertility and enhance productivity. However, this cropping system have also great importance in rainfed situation, particularly Maize based intercropping system with wheat cropping sequence. We hope that this review report willprovide a valuable guideline for the researchers, extension functionaries and other stakeholders those working on intercropping systems.