Forage sorghum (FS) (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a major forage in crop–livestock production systems. It has low crude protein (CP) and is rich in fiber. Its forage quality can be improved by mixing with legumes rich in CP. Achieving a greater legume contribution to achieve higher CP over monocrops is a challenge for intercropping. Field trials were conducted with lablab (Lablab purpureus L.), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), grown with sorghum as mixed 1:1 (sorghum: legumes) and 2:2 (sorghum: legumes) rows. The sorghum plant density was 250,000 and 190,000 plants ha⁻¹. Periodic crop biomass, leaf area index (LAI) and light interception (LI) were measured, together with forage mixture quality at final harvest. The LAI and LI values were greater for lablab and cowpea intercrops in the 1:1 configuration. Legume forage yield contributed up to 10–12% of the total dry matter (DM). A significant improvement in legume biomass was observed for a sorghum population at 190,000 plants ha⁻¹ with paired rows (2:2) of either lablab or cowpea. Sorghum and total forage yields were higher in both 1:1 and 2:2 configurations with 250,000 plants ha⁻¹. The CP concentration of the forage mixture was 62–75 g kg⁻¹ DM. The acid and neutral detergent fibers and the digestibility of the forage mixture were not improved to any great extent. The results suggested that sorghum planted at normal populations with paired rows of lablab or cowpea can improve sorghum–legume intercrop productivity.

Forage crop–dairy farming is an important agro-industry across the world. This system is intensive with high-input forage crops. In the United States (US) Southern Great Plains, the system is based primarily on high-input annual grass-type crops in monocropping approaches and requires diverse low-input broadleaf crops for strengthening its sustainability. Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) have the potential to provide forage crop diversity options with high forage yields of high quality. Winter canola and pea in mono- and mixed-cropping approaches at seeding ratios of canola/pea at 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 were studied for yield and quality in 2015 and 2016 in Clovis, New Mexico (NM). Averaged over years, canola–pea at 75:25 and 50:50 seeding ratios produced similar biomass forage yield but higher than mono-pea by 43% and canola–pea at 25:75 and mono-canola cropping by 8%. The land equivalent ratio of all mixed-cropping treatments exceeded 1.0, with canola–pea at the 50:50 seeding ratio recording a land equivalent ratio of 1.15, indicating that mixed-cropping systems are better users of land resources. Total digestible nutrients and relative feed value were higher in canola–pea mixed cropping than in mono-canola and mono-pea cropping. Canola–pea mixed cropping achieved high yields (13.3 to 14.7 Mg·ha⁻¹) with improved forage quality, as well as improved crop and land productivity, with the potential to improve mechanical harvestability of vining pea, and strengthen the diversity and sustainability of forage crop–dairy farming in the Southern Great Plains under limited irrigation input of ~300 mm.

Cover crops (CCs) offer ecosystem benefits, yet their impact on subsequent crop yields varies with climate, soil, and management practices. Using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Education, and Extension Center (ENREEC), we identified optimal cereal rye management strategies focusing on planting, termination, and the intervals between CC termination and corn planting. Results showed minimal impact of CC management variations on corn yield, underscoring corn’s resilience to management changes. Delayed planting notably decreased CC biomass, nitrogen uptake, and biomass nitrogen content on average by 8.8%, 11%, and 9.2% for every five-day delay from 25 September. Every 5-day increase in the interval between CC termination and corn planting reduced biomass by 19.3%. Conversely, each 5-day delay in CC termination from 10 September to 10 October increased biomass by 30%, enhancing SOC accumulation. SOC changes over the 30-year simulation ranged from 5.8% to 7.7%, peaking with late May terminations. The earliest termination showed the highest nitrogen content in biomass (3.4%), with the lowest (0.69%) in mid-May. Our results demonstrate that strategic CC management supports soil health without negatively impacting corn yield in Eastern Nebraska, providing valuable insights for farmers and practitioners aiming to implement sustainable CC practices while preserving crop productivity.

The ecosystem benefits linked to intercropping and diversified agroecosystems is an area with increasing research interest, particularly in sustainable food production and farm resilience to extreme climate variability. Interrow cropping of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) in almond [ Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb] orchards during the 3–4 non‐bearing, establishment years has potential to advance sustainable intensification in agricultural regions such as the Central Valley of California. In this study we evaluated ecosystem benefits linked to this intercropped agroecosystem in contrast to conventional almond systems with interrow spaces maintained bare. From Winter 2023 to Spring 2024 (157 days), we modeled soil hydrological properties (HYDRUS‐1D) and quantified soil nitrogen using various approaches. Simulation from HYDRUS revealed that winter soil evaporative loss was most substantial for a flood‐irrigated bare‐soil control (208.1 mm) and lowest for the alfalfa intercropped interrow (59.2 mm). Estimated soil water storage was lowest in the alfalfa intercropped interrow and highest for bare‐soil controls, indicating continuous plant water uptake throughout the winter period when almond trees are dormant. Winter soil N loss measured using suction lysimeters, ion exchange soil resins traps, and soil sampling (0–120 cm) indicated that N leaching was greatest in the bare‐soil interrow spaces and lowest for alfalfa intercropped treatment. The utilization of free winter inputs, such as rainwater and slow‐release mineralized N from dairy manure compost, translated to a 2.22 tonne ha ⁻¹ alfalfa yield and equated to a $500 ha ⁻¹ gross revenue for the first alfalfa cutting. Overall, the preliminary ecosystem benefits observed in this unique alfalfa–almond intercropped agroecosystem were attributed to augmentation in farm resource use efficiency and revenues generated during the winter season.