Scientists investigate potential of plant traits and intercropping to reduce reliance on fertilisers

4 Apr 2016

"The benefits of intercropping are clear in other contexts too, like the control of pests and disease or nitrogen use, but we have the first concrete evidence on how intercropping or these specific traits could affect P use.

Ongoing research by the James Hutton Institute, Rothamsted Research and Lancaster University is shedding light into the dark world of roots and soils, by focusing on the potential of plants to harness the phosphorus (P) already present in soils and reduce reliance on phosphate-based fertilisers.