Crop–weed relationships are context?dependent and cannot fully explain the positive effects of intercropping on yield

Implementing sustainable weed control strategies is a major challenge in agriculture. Intercropping offers potential solution to pressure by reducing the resources available for weeds; however, research on relationship between crop diversity and its consequences yield not yet fully conclusive. In this study, we performed an extensive intercropping experiment using eight species 40 different mixtures examine how affects communities subsequent changes weeds influence yield. Mesocosm experiments were carried out under field conditions Switzerland Spain, which differ drastically terms of climate, soil community, included monocultures, two- four-species mixtures, treatment without crops. Weed assessed biomass, number evenness, community composition. Results indicate that reduces biomass Spain but Switzerland. Switzerland, despite lack effect weeds, increased with number. Moreover, where abundant, increasing correlated reduced biomass. water nutrients limited, was related or diversity. The presented applies plant ecology context agricultural production systems. We demonstrate that, our due suppression diverse communities, so must be result other ecological processes. further show crop–weed relationships vary across environmental conditions; more specifically, study shows are less detrimental harsher environments compared benign abiotic conditions, alternative needed ensure benefits provided intercropping.