Can positive interactions between cultivated species help to sustain modern agriculture?

Ren, Weizheng; Hu, Liangliang; Jian, Zhang; Cui-ping, Sun; Tang, Jianjun; Yuan, Yongge; Chen, Xin

doi:10.1890/130162

Cited by 58 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(145 reference statements)

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“…Most studies on intercropping have focused on legume–cereal combinations because of the benefits that symbiotic N 2 fixation has on cereal biomass production (Vandermeer ; Li, Zhang & Zhang ; Ren et al . ). However, cereal–cereal intercropping such as wheat–maize and barely–maize combinations is also very common (Li et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…An economically important agro-ecosystem whose functioning greatly depends on interspecific plant-plant interactions is intercropping. Here, diverse plant species grow together to significantly enhance the crop production via interspecific facilitation or niche differences (Li et al 2014;Ren et al 2014;Brooker et al 2016). Facilitative interactions can occur, for example below-ground where soil P mobilized by one plant species significantly contributes to increasing the growth of neighbour crop species, thus enhancing the overall ecosystem productivity (Li et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared with monoculture systems, intercropping can increase land utilization (Willey 1979;Hauggaard-Nielsen, Ambus & Jensen 2001), nutrient-, water-and light-use efficiency by plants (Zhang & Li 2003;Zhu et al 2015), and reduce both N inputs and losses to/from soils (Exner et al 1999;Cong et al 2015). Most studies on intercropping have focused on legume-cereal combinations because of the benefits that symbiotic N 2 fixation has on cereal biomass production (Vandermeer 1992;Li, Zhang & Zhang 2013;Ren et al 2014). However, cereal-cereal intercropping such as wheat-maize and barely-maize combinations is also very common (Li et al 2001a(Li et al ,b, 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by neighbouring plant species: evidence from intercropping

et al. 2016

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Summary The productivity of species‐diverse plant assemblages strongly depends on the temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by competing neighbouring plants. Our understanding, however, of how rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) uptake might change through time between neighbouring plant species under field conditions is still very limited. Here, we specifically measure the temporal trajectories of N, P and K uptake by staple food plants such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) when growing either in monocultures or in intercropping systems. We ask how (i) plant species combinations, (ii) N fertilization and (iii) film mulching might affect key indexes of N, P and K uptake over time. We fit logistic models to characterize the nutrient uptake trajectories. Maximum cumulative N, P and K uptake (kg ha−1) by wheat and barley were significantly greater in wheat–maize or barley–maize intercropping systems than in wheat or barley monocultures. Cumulative nutrient uptake by intercropped maize (either with wheat or with barley) was reduced by interspecific competition at early growth stages, but it increased rapidly after wheat and barley were harvested. Maximum cumulative N and P (but not K) uptake by intercropped maize were significantly higher than the uptake by monoculture maize, particularly when N fertilizer or film mulching was applied. Intercropping induced a significant temporal niche differentiation in maximum daily nutrient uptake rates (kg ha−1 day−1) between intercropped species. Fertilization had much stronger effects on maximum cumulative nutrient uptake of maize than that of wheat and barley. Mulching significantly increased the maximum cumulative nutrient uptake of maize and advanced the time to reach its maximum daily P and K uptake rates. Our study provides evidence of an important temporal niche differentiation mechanism (‘temporal complementarity’) in nutrient uptake rates between neighbouring plant species. A better understanding of temporal trajectories of interspecific nutrient uptake rates remains crucial if we want to maximize the nutrient‐use efficiency and sustain overyielding (i.e. high food production) in plant species‐diverse systems such as intercropping.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by neighbouring plant species: evidence from intercropping

et al. 2016

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“…He, Bertness & Altieri ; Ren et al . ). Such processes can help promote plant diversity in systems where we might otherwise expect competitive exclusion to reduce species richness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, recent evidence from natural and semi-natural ecosystems, as well as from some studies of cultivated systems, has highlighted the occurrence and importance of facilitative plant-plant interactions even in productive environments (e.g. He, Bertness & Altieri 2013;Ren et al 2014). Such processes can help promote plant diversity in systems where we might otherwise expect competitive exclusion to reduce species richness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation and sustainable agriculture: a mechanistic approach to reconciling crop production and conservation

et al. 2015

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Summary1. Food security is currently considered a major global problem. However, increasing intensity of food production in agricultural systems has driven reductions in farmland biodiversity. A major challenge is to enable biodiversity conservation whilst addressing the problem of food security. 2. Here we describe how facilitative plant-plant interactions in crop systems could be used to help strike this balance. An obvious example is that of intercropping systems, where combinations of crop species can -under some circumstances -deliver reduced inputs of agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides) per unit yield, with potential knock-on benefits for biodiversity conservation. 3. Other facilitative processes can also play a role in biodiversity conservation. Increased intraspecific crop genetic diversity can help protect crops from pests and diseases. Although overlooked in facilitation research, we argue that the mechanisms operate in a manner which is directly analogous to associational defence against herbivores, a process well recognized in the facilitation literature. As with intercropping, the benefits to nature conservation arise from reduced pesticide use per unit harvested crop. 4. Crops may have facilitative effects on some arable weed species, particularly those that are currently considered rare in intensive farming systems. Work is in its early stages to understand the underlying mechanisms, but it appears that crops might create niche space to which some weed species are adapted. Increasing plant species diversity through niche space creation may then have cascading benefits for other components of farmland biodiversity. 5. Our new understanding of facilitative processes arising from work on crop systems has lessons for the study of facilitative interactions in natural and semi-natural communities. We argue that, although easier to identify and quantify in crop systems, some of these facilitative processes have to date been overlooked in studies of non-crop systems and certainly deserve further consideration. 6. Finally, we discuss what steps may be needed to move from our understanding of the role of facilitation to the development of new agricultural practice. In some cases the challenge may be one of the encouraging uptake of existing practices, and in others more research is needed to understand how new ecological understanding might deliver more sustainable agricultural practice.

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Impacts of polycultural cropping on crop yields and biodiversity: A systematic map protocol

Martinez,

Gathorne‐Hardy,

Smith

2024

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Agriculture is currently the largest driver of biodiversity‐loss worldwide. There is a critical need to develop agricultural systems that protect and promote biodiversity, while also meeting local and global food needs. Ecological theory suggests that cultivating crops in diverse mixtures both maximises niche occupancy and generates additional niches, generating both higher yields and higher biodiversity than cultivation in monocultures. A large and growing body of agronomic research provides strong evidence for the potential productivity and biodiversity benefits of in‐field crop‐diversification strategies. This protocol sets out a methodology for a systematic map of evidence on yield‐ and biodiversity‐outcomes in ‘polycultures’—systems of cultivation where multiple food crop species are grown together simultaneously at field‐scale. Systematic searches with a global scope will be conducted in Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and CAB Abstracts to yield a comprehensive sample of relevant published, peer‐reviewed literature. The articles returned by searches will be subject to eligibility screening according to pre‐defined inclusion criteria, at successive stages (title and abstract, and full text). Following this, we will extract data from eligible studies on study designs, survey and sampling protocols, experimental treatments and comparators, and outcomes measured. A narrative synthesis, illustrated by tables, figures and maps, will describe the quantity and characteristics of the available evidence on the impacts of polycultural cropping on (i) crop yields, and (ii) agroecosystem biodiversity. We will also identify the research that examines these two outcomes in parallel. The synthesis will be accompanied by a published database containing bibliographic information as well as data (see ‘2’) on study characteristics and outcomes. Practical implications. The anticipated systematic map will provide a synthesis of current evidence regarding the potential yield‐ and biodiversity‐impacts of polycultural cropping. We will identify key knowledge gaps, and ‘clusters’ of related evidence that could lend themselves to further quantitative synthesis via subsequent systematic reviews and/or meta‐analyses. As such, the work will facilitate future appraisal of the potential of polyculture as a tool to bridge the currently conflicting priorities of food production on the one hand and biodiversity conservation on the other.

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Can positive interactions between cultivated species help to sustain modern agriculture?

Abstract: † these authors contributed equally to this work Cultivated species interactions in modern agriculture WZ Ren et al. 508 www.frontiersinecology.org

Cited by 58 publications

References 60 publications

Temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by neighbouring plant species: evidence from intercropping

Temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by neighbouring plant species: evidence from intercropping

Facilitation and sustainable agriculture: a mechanistic approach to reconciling crop production and conservation

Impacts of polycultural cropping on crop yields and biodiversity: A systematic map protocol

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