Cotton-Based Rotation, Intercropping, and Alternate Intercropping Increase Yields by Improving Root–Shoot Relations

Summary

This review synthesises evidence on how cotton-based intercropping, rotation, and particularly alternate (transposition) intercropping—which combines both practices by switching crop positions annually—improve yields by rebalancing root–shoot physiological relations. Compared with traditional rotation or intercropping alone, transposition intercropping increased yield and net return by 17–21% and 10–23% respectively, with land equivalent ratios improving by 20–30%. The paper emphasises the role of signalling in regulating root–shoot rebalancing and highlights this as an underexplored area for future research.

UK applicability

Findings are most directly applicable to temperate cotton production, which is not commercially significant in the UK; however, the mechanistic principles of rotation and intercropping effects on root–shoot relations and resource efficiency may inform UK-based arable and mixed farming strategies with alternative crop combinations suited to British climate and markets.

Key measures

Crop yield, net return, land equivalent ratio (LER), root–shoot relations, above- and belowground interactions, signalling pathways regulating root–shoot rebalancing

Outcomes reported

The study examined how cotton-based rotation, intercropping, and alternate (transposition) intercropping patterns affect root–shoot relations and their influence on crop yield and quality. It assessed yield increases, net returns, land equivalent ratios, and the physiological mechanisms by which above- and belowground interactions regulate productivity.

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