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Intercropping Perennial Fruit Trees and Annual Field Crops with Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (MAPs) in the Mediterranean Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Ilaria Marotti

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Anne Whittaker

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Reyhan Bahtiyarca Bağdat

    (Field Crops Central Research Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara 06170, Türkiye)

  • Pervin Ari Akin

    (Field Crops Central Research Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara 06170, Türkiye
    Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, University Centre, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

  • Namuk Ergün

    (Field Crops Central Research Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara 06170, Türkiye)

  • Giovanni Dinelli

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

The Mediterranean basin (MB), a “climate hotspot”, is experiencing faster than average increases in global temperature and water deficit, as well as soil degradation, with detrimental impacts on food crop yield and pest/pathogen incidence. Hence, there is an urgent requisite for sustainable crop diversification strategies to promote crop resilience, soil quality conservation and pest/pathogen control. Intercropping is a strategy that has yet to be widely adopted. Presently, cereal–legume combinations represent the most common intercrops. Of relevance, a large number of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), native to the MB, serve as potentially profitable indigenous resources for intercropping with food crops. Environmentally sustainable benefits of MB MAP intercropping with food crops have ironically been reported largely from research outside the MB. The present study aims to review the published literature from 2003 to 2023 on MAP intercropping with perennial nut/fruit crops and annual field crops in the MB. Published research is scarce but shows a promising upward trend, with 70% and 47% of intercropping studies with perennials and annual field crops, respectively, dated between 2020 and 2023. MAP intercropping shows potential in augmenting yield, pest/pathogen and weed control, soil health and cash crop quality, warranting further research with more widespread adoption in the MB.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilaria Marotti & Anne Whittaker & Reyhan Bahtiyarca Bağdat & Pervin Ari Akin & Namuk Ergün & Giovanni Dinelli, 2023. "Intercropping Perennial Fruit Trees and Annual Field Crops with Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (MAPs) in the Mediterranean Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:12054-:d:1211901
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Felix Dittrich & Thomas Iserloh & Cord-Henrich Treseler & Roman Hüppi & Sophie Ogan & Manuel Seeger & Sören Thiele-Bruhn, 2021. "Crop Diversification in Viticulture with Aromatic Plants: Effects of Intercropping on Grapevine Productivity in a Steep-Slope Vineyard in the Mosel Area, Germany," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, January.
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