CROSYMED Project: Enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiency through Legumes in Agroecosystems of the Mediterranean Basin

Modern intensive agricultural systems generally focus on the productivity of monocultures. They are characterized by a low diversity crops, with uniform and symmetrical planting layouts. largely rely utilization chemical inputs. widely denounced for their negative environmental impacts. In this context, ecological intensification framework proposes exploitation biodiversity in order to better achieve such ecosystem services soil conservation. Intercropping, i.e., simultaneous growth two or more crops mixed same field, appears have potentialities improve productivity, resilience capacity, sustainability agroecosystems through positive interactions between plants as facilitation niche complementarity. Cereal–legume intercropping turns out be effective low-N agroecosystems, since legumes ability fix atmospheric nitrogen via symbiosis rhizobia. This fixed N, turn, benefits cereal various processes. The objective project is benefit intercropped cereals low-input management plant–plant plant–microbe interactions. nitrogen-fixing requires phosphorus iron efficient. While these nutrients prone lacking N-limited case Mediterranean rhizobacteria mycorrhiza seem play an important role acquisition efficient utilization. We propose development participatory research four agroecosystems. Agronomic diagnosis will performed field assess N P biogeochemical cycles, well Fe availability, combination plant performances microorganisms. Molecular identification microorganisms from most productive sites done genes tolerance Fe- P-deficiencies realized. Glasshouse experiments involving cultivars legumes, previously identified microorganisms, disentangle mechanisms nutrient acquisition, sharing, transfer plants. Other effects cereal–legume–microbe architecture root hair development. lines integrated strategy functional ecology plant–microbe–soil Gabès (Tunisia), Boumedfaa (Algeria), Beni Mellal (Morocco), Thessaloniki (Greece). Using multidisciplinary innovative approaches, program provide novel knowledge understanding agroecosystem food production.