Summary
This PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review synthesises evidence on crop diversification in high-value horticultural systems, finding that diversification (via rotations, intercropping, cover crops, agroforestry and habitat enhancements) improved soil and belowground indicators in 58% of empirical studies and maintained or increased productivity in 55%, though yield responses were variable (−8% to +40%). Intercropping improved overall land-use efficiency (LER mean 1.26) but caused focal-crop yield penalties of 5–15% where complementarity or timing was poor; evidence on product quality remained sparse (15% of studies), and formal farm-economic or adoption analysis suitable for synthesis was limited (12% of studies).
Regional applicability
The review is global in scope but primarily reflects published evidence from 2007–2026. United Kingdom horticultural systems (vegetables, soft fruit, protected cropping) would benefit from region-specific application of these findings; the emphasis on ecological intensification aligns with UK policy on sustainable intensification and soil health, though transfer depends on local agroclimate, pest pressures, market structure and farm scale.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass, crop yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), pest and disease pressure, product quality metrics, economic and adoption indicators
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised evidence on agronomic performance, belowground soil functioning, pest regulation, product quality, and farmer-relevant economic outcomes across diversified horticultural systems using rotations, intercropping, cover crops, agroforestry and habitat plants. Quantitative synthesis covered 33 empirical studies from a total of 60 sources screened between 2007–2026.
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