Sustainable intensification: a pivotal role for legume supported cropped systems

Abstract

Agroecology identifies nitrogen (N) use inefficiency as a major cause of the ecosystem service dysfunctions associated with modern intensive farming and the use of non-renewable resources. Agroecological insight also asserts that there are immediately available environmentally sensitive and profitable agronomic approaches that may be used to help remedy this situation. Foremost amongst these is the use of legume supported crop systems (LSCS), to provide a source of renewable nutrients and encourage natural nutrient cycling. This effort should be underpinned by the use of precision farming technologies. Specifically we highlight the importance of approaches which support the uptake of LSCS with specific regard to: 1) establishing research agendas that aim to quantify the proportion of N derived from air (%Ndfa), by legumes and understanding more fully how we may best manage (using precision farming technologies), the passage of N; 2) breeding new crop varieties (legume and non-legume), which can best exploit renewable sources of N from production methods that encourage renewable nutrient cycling; 3) developing extension services dedicated to ensuring insights are communicated effectively to farmers, and; 4) introducing policies that encourage the uptake of LSCS by farmers and strengthen the capability of the wider agrifood chain to increase the market demand for legume based products.