Scientific publications
* (Corresponding author)
Sudhir Kumar Rajpoot
Keston Njira
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Soil health describes a soil's capacity to function within its ecological boundaries-supporting plant growth, sustaining water and air quality, and maintaining robust microbial and animal life. It's critical to ecosystem's ability to deliver services such as food production, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and biodiversity support (Pinto et al., 2017). Unfortunately, converting native landscapes into monocultures and relying heavily on synthetic fertilizers depletes soil organic matter, damages microbial communities, and lowers water retention, weakening these essential services.The incorporation of legumes in various cropping systems holds immense potential for addressing numerous challenges in modern agriculture, from improving soil health to enhancing crop yields and combating climate change. As biologically nitrogen-fixing crops, legumes naturally enrich the soil and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. They also enhance soil structure, promote microbial life, suppress insect pests and weeds, improve water use efficiency (Kokkini et al., 2025;Akchaya et al., 2025;Rajpoot et al., 2016), improve crop nutritional quality and production sustainability (Nuemsi et al., 2018). These "service crops" align with the economic, social, and environmental goals of sustainable agriculture. Despite its potential, the adoption of legume intercropping remains limited by the lack of suitable adaptation strategies across various climates and socio-economic contexts (Akchaya et al., 2025). Practical agronomic recommendations, such as optimal spacing, sowing methods, and management based on local conditions, are still emerging as research advances.This Research Topic aimed to address these needs by compiling high-quality contributions provided by individual studies and reviews on the subject of legume intercropping and its role in sustainable agricultural practices. These works focus on: i) Nutrient cycling and nitrogen fixation, human-centered ecosystem services, ii) Soil quality and physico-chemical properties, iii) Crop productivity and resilience, iv) Microbial and pest interactions, and v) Resource use efficiency and climate adaptation.This collection brings together nine insightful contributions that explore the ecological and agronomic roles of legume intercropping across diverse farming systems, from rice-fallows in India to maize-peanut fields and high-altitude grasslands. The studies compiled in this Research Topic underscore the diverse and essential ecosystem services offered by legumes when integrated into intercropping systems. From enhancing nutrient cycling and biological nitrogen fixation to improving soil structure, microbial activity, and crop resilience, legumes consistently demonstrate their potential as cornerstone crops in sustainable agriculture. The success of legume intercropping depends on many factors like local climate, soil conditions, crop combinations, and how farmers manage their fields. To make it truly effective, region-specific practices, farmer involvement, and practical recommendations are essential. Future efforts should focus on long-term studies, develop suitable agronomic packages, and explore how legumes interact with soil life, especially under changing climates. Understanding the economic trade-offs and offering market support will also help farmers adopt these systems more widely.In conclusion, legumes offer a practical and ecologically grounded solution to many of the pressing challenges in agriculture. Their role in building resilient, efficient, and sustainable agroecosystems continues to grow, and this Research Topic contributes meaningfully to the scientific and practical understanding of their multifaceted value.
