Suitability of maize legume intercropping systems

The need is increasing more and more from less and less of land and water both in quality and quantity. The aspects of efficient use of resources with conservation, growth with equity and sustainability are the difficult tasks to accomplish the given background of agricultural diversity and stubborn traditions attached to agriculture in India. The strategy in terms of finding alternate cropping systems that can meet the above necessities for sustainable agricultural development of the country is the need of the hour. The sustainability of our agricultural system can be traced to the exploitation of resources without conservation for sustenance and profits. An approach in a system basis is the prime need for overall sustainable development. With the adoption of new cropping system, we can think of integration of legumes, especially in intercropping situations for sustainable higher productivity, profit and employment.