Year: 2019 | Month: June | Volume 6 | Issue 1
Enrichment of Biodiversity, Influence in Microbial Population Dynamics of Soil and Nutrient Utilization in Cereal-Legume Intercropping Systems: A Review
Sagar Maitra and Deb Prasad Ray
DOI:10.30954/2347-9655.01.2019.3
Abstract:
Intercropping system, in general, is growing of two or more crops on the same piece of land simultaneously with a definite row proportions. However, it is very much important to ensure that component crops do not compete with each other for space, natural resources and nutrients. The combination of cereal and legume in intercropping provides a greater scope for minimizing the adverse impact of moisture and nutrient stress in addition to improving system productivity, soil health and ecosystem services. Significant enhancement of system productivity in intercropping can be obtained with enrichment of biodiversity due to cultivation of various crop species and thus encouraging pollinators and microorganisms to harbor in the crop field. Adoption of efficient intercropping system can influence the microbial population dynamics in the soil. Population and activity of N-fixing microorganisms and other beneficial micro flora and fauna are also increased by adoption of cereal-legume intercropping system. Besides, intercropping systems with cereal-legume combination are known to facilitate efficient utilization of nutrients by creating congenial environment. The article emphasizes above and belowground diversity and efficient utilization of nutrients in cereal-legume intercropping system
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