Intercropping is taken into account a biodiversity-promoting observe and consists of the simultaneous cultivation of a number of crops in the identical discipline. Regardless of its ecological advantages, its adoption in specialised farming techniques – reminiscent of strawberry monocultures – stays restricted, as these techniques sometimes deal with maximizing revenue from a single crop.
The experiment investigated the consequences of intercropping strawberry with herbs reminiscent of chives, marigold, peppermint, strawberry mint and customary sage, utilizing a 2:1 strawberry-to-herb ratio. Carried out over two consecutive years (2021-2022) within the alpine surroundings of Martell Valley (South Tyrol, Italy), the research assessed plant progress, fruit manufacturing, organic and financial feasibility, and the impression of intercropping on helpful species, together with pollinators, pests, and predators. The outcomes confirmed important year-to-year variation. Though strawberry crops intercropped with herbs in 2021 achieved a fruit manufacturing that was not considerably totally different from that of pure stand (on common 150 g plant-1), the intercropping techniques outperformed monocropping as revealed by indices reminiscent of land equal ratio (LER) and revenue equal ratio (IER) each larger than one. Nevertheless, within the second yr of cultivation (2022), the principle parameters confirmed a decline. For instance, strawberry plant biomass was decreased (by a mean of 33%) in intercropping mixtures involving chives, calendula and peppermint, leading to a discount in strawberry manufacturing of over 50% in comparison with monoculture. Certainly, the interplay between totally different plant species analyzed with aggressive indices confirmed that strawberry plant appeared because the dominated crop in these mixtures (aggressivity for strawberry: Af < 0; competitors ratio for strawberry: CRf < 1). In each years, leaf nutrient content material in intercropped strawberry crops was statistically much like that of monocropped crops. Conversely, important variations had been noticed in intercropped herbs. Intercropping techniques, particularly with chives and marigold, elevated the richness of arthropod species (+100% as in comparison with strawberry in pure crop).
The analysis work contributes to a greater understanding of the organic and financial feasibility of intercropping as a diversified farming observe for a strawberry farm. Moreover, the findings provide a basis for additional investigations into interspecies interactions, notably by way of enhancing pollinator attraction and pest repulsion.
Soppelsa, S., Gasser, M., Castellan, A., Pramsohler, M., Zago, M., Matteazzi, A., & Kelderer, M. (2025). Strawberry-herb intercropping: A 2-year research in direction of sustainable intensification and diversification. Frontiers in Sustainable Meals Programs, Agroecology and Ecosystem Providers, 9. doi:10.3389/fsufs.2025.1645707
Supply: Frontiers In
