About this Research Topic
Sustainable use of soils is among the global challenges of the twenty-first century. The global population is projected to increase to 8.6 billion by 2030 and 9.6 billion by 2050, exacerbating the biotic and abiotic impacts of climate change on global food production. This rapid population growth, coupled with food and nutritional insecurity, land degradation, declining soil fertility, and stagnant crop productivity, poses significant threats to sustainable agriculture. Current research highlights the potential of legume intercropping to address these challenges due to its multifaceted benefits, including biological nitrogen fixation, enhanced soil microbial activity, and improved soil health. However, there is a need for more comprehensive studies to fully understand and optimize the integration of legumes into diverse cropping systems to maximize these benefits.
This research topic aims to explore the integration of legume intercropping into sustainable farming systems to enhance nitrogen fixation, soil health, and climate resilience. The primary objectives include investigating the effectiveness of legume intercropping in various agro-climatic zones, understanding its role in soil health restoration, and evaluating its potential to improve food and nutritional security. Specific questions to be addressed include: How do different legume species contribute to soil fertility? What are the best practices for integrating legumes into existing cropping systems? How can legume intercropping mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture?
To gather further insights into the integration of legume intercropping into sustainable farming systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Emerging legume intercropping systems for increased land fertility and agricultural sustainability across various agro-climatic zones.
• Multifaceted benefits of legumes on soil health restoration and food and nutritional security in the context of Sustainable Development Goals.
• Role of legumes in improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil.
• The impact of legume intercropping on advancing food and feed quality, enhancing crop health, and maintaining ecosystem services.
• Strategies involving legumes for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production systems.
This research topic aims to explore the integration of legume intercropping into sustainable farming systems to enhance nitrogen fixation, soil health, and climate resilience. The primary objectives include investigating the effectiveness of legume intercropping in various agro-climatic zones, understanding its role in soil health restoration, and evaluating its potential to improve food and nutritional security. Specific questions to be addressed include: How do different legume species contribute to soil fertility? What are the best practices for integrating legumes into existing cropping systems? How can legume intercropping mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture?
To gather further insights into the integration of legume intercropping into sustainable farming systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Emerging legume intercropping systems for increased land fertility and agricultural sustainability across various agro-climatic zones.
• Multifaceted benefits of legumes on soil health restoration and food and nutritional security in the context of Sustainable Development Goals.
• Role of legumes in improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil.
• The impact of legume intercropping on advancing food and feed quality, enhancing crop health, and maintaining ecosystem services.
• Strategies involving legumes for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production systems.
Keywords: Legume Intercropping, Nitrogen Fixation, Soil Health, Land Degradation, Food Security
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
