Application of Intercropping in Organic Agriculture

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Abstract
Intercropping is growing two or more crops in the same field. There are various reasons for the application of intercropping in both tropical and temperate food production. So far, intercropping in European intensive agriculture has not been applied because of possible yield loss due to competition between the main crop and intercrop, the availability of cheap pesticides and growers' reluctance to use more complicated cropping systems. In addition, there was no consumers demand for pesticide-free crops and no legislation from governments limiting pesticides. During the last decade, intercropping research in field vegetables demonstrated significant pest suppression effects, enabling cropping of cabbages and leek of good commercial quality without using pesticides. Presently, research efforts focus on the clarification of underlying mechanisms and the solutions of constraints, competition effects and acceptable weed management. Progress has been made in this direction. For sustainable food production methods, both ecological and economic conditions must be fulfilled. While satisfying ecological demands, attention must be given to the economic viability of intercropping-based crop production methods. Yield quality and quantity are important, but so also is the balance of inputs and savings. A consumer market demand for products which are produced in an ecologically acceptable way is also crucial.