Code
A05
Sector
Agriculture
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making use of resources that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop. Examples of intercropping strategies are planting a deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop, or planting a tall crop with a shorter crop that requires partial shade. Numerous types of intercropping, all of which vary the temporal and spatial mixture to some degree, have been identified: mixed intercropping, row cropping, relay cropping, etc.

Illustration(s)

Intercropped cereals with soybeans

Source: Gábor Ungvári’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP2 - Slow runoff
High
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
High
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Low
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
High
BP11 - Improve soils
Medium
BP15 - Enhance precipitation
High
ES1 - Water storage
Low
ES4 - Biodiversity preservation
Medium
ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Low
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
Medium
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
Medium
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
High
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Medium
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
Medium

Case studies per NWRM