Cereal-legume intercropping LEGUMINOSE field lab

Summary

The goal of this field lab is to boost knowledge and share experiences in cereal-legume intercropping.  It is part of the European LEGUMINOSE project. 

Intercropping is an ancient agricultural technique where two or more plant species are grown simultaneously in the same field. Despite its environmental and economic benefits, intercropping is still a niche practice in the EU: Only 2% of European arable land is used for legume-cereal intercropping. 

This field lab, and the LEGUMINOSE project in general, aims to investigate the benefits of intercropping, identify the barriers which prevent farmers adopting the practice, and provide farmers with practical, science-based information on the practice.  By doing this, the project hopes to transform legume-cereal intercropping from a niche practice to a mainstream, climate smart farming practice. 

This project is funded by Horizon Europe. UK funding is provided by UKRI. The project brings together a partnership of 17 organizations from around Europe. UK partners are Reading University and Soil Association.  For more information see the LEGUMINOSE project description in the results and reports section of the field lab page.

The benefits

This method of farming can:

• increase crop yields by up to 20%
• improve soil health
• suppress weeds
• reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers (by up to 50%)
• increase biodiversity
• increase the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change

Trial design

The field lab will take place on over 20 farms in different location across the UK.  The trials will measure yield and soil health benefits of intercrops from a range of crop mixes in organic, conventional and regenerative systems. The on-farm trial protocols will vary slightly from farm to farm, depending on the priorities and interests of the farmers themselves.