ABSTRACT
Intercropping systems involve mixtures of annual crops being grown on the same piece of land at the same time, with enough proximity for ecological interactions to occur between component crops and associated biota. These systems constitute an effective agroecological strategy for introducing more biodiversity into agroecosystems, and the resulting increased crop diversity enhances a number of ecosystem services provided to farmers. Higher species richness of planned and associated biodiversity improves abiotic conditions such as soil organic matter, soil cover and structure, water retention capacity, and microclimatic conditions that are favorable for crop production. Crop diversity also enhances arthropod diversity and microbiological activity involved in improved nutrient cycling and soil fertility, pest regulation, and resilience to climatic variability. Further studies to improve our understanding of the ecological interactions in intercropped systems will provide the basis for designing efficient, diverse, productive, and resilient polycultural cropping systems with potential for wider applicability both in temperate and tropical agriculture.
