The Ecology of Intercropping

John H. Vandermeer (Author)

9780521346894, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 August 1992

248 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.405 kg

' … an important step in the development of a theoretical framework for evaluating and designing intercrops.' Trends in Ecology and Evolution

The practice of growing two or more crops together is widespread throughout the tropics and is becoming increasingly practised in temperate agriculture. The benefits of nutrient exchange, reduced weed competition and pathogen control can generate substantial improvements in growth and yield. In this book John Vandermeer, a leading worker on the subject, shows how classical ecological principles, especially those relating to competition and population ecology, can be applied to intercropping. Despite the large amount of research activity directed towards the subject over the last 20 years, the practice of intercropping has, until now, received very little serious academic attention. The Ecology of Intercropping is unique in approaching the question of intercropping from a theoretical point of view. In addition the details of the approach will take as their starting point well-accepted ecological theory. Using this basis the author shows how the approach can be used to design and evaluate intercropping systems to improve agricultural yields.

Preface
1. Introduction: intercrops and ecology
2. The measurement of intercrop performance
3. The competitive production principle
4. Facilitation
5. Mechanisms of the competitive production principle
6. The environments modified to produce facilitation
7. Special problems in intercrops involving perennials
8. Weeds and intercrops
9. Variability and intercrops
10. Planning intercrops - a phenomenological approach
11. Planning intercrops - a mechanistic approach
12. Critical research directions for the future
References
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Agronomy & crop production [TVK]