In crop rotation, the plants dont necessarily need to be good companions in the same way. Intercropping means growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time. Top 12 types of cropping system your article library. Greater income, greater yield intercropping offers greater financial returns for a farmer. Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops together in proximity on the same land. Irrigation is a measure by means of which increased intensity of competition for water in crops susceptible to drought can be avoided snezana oljaca et al. The benefit of this include optimum utilization of land space and. Intercropping and crop rotation are elective methodologies connected in multiple cropping. Crops yield increases with intercropping due to higher growth rate, reduction of weeds, pests and diseases and more effective use of resources. Mixtures of crops no rows alternate rows or strips. Best practices alley croppingagroforestry and intercropping. Relay cropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second crop after the first one has completed its development. Intercropping is different from crop rotation because two or more crops are grown one after other. Interspecific interaction between species in the rhizosphere can also affect the nutrient availability and uptake in intercropping li et al.
The practice of intercropping has actually been around since farming began. Stir cropping involves planting broad strips of several crops in the field. A general overview on intercropping and its advantages in. Compared with pure cropping in which one species is planted, intercropping is. There are a few types of intercropping, by definition.
The fertility of the land plays a crucial role in the performance and yield of the crops. The crops may actually compete for the same nourishment and of course water, which may lead to an unmanageable conflict. Even if you are growing some produce for your own family or just as part of a hobby, you will have multiple types of produce, which is always a nice outcome. The large uolume of literature that involves intercropping can be divided into two categories. Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops or genotypes together for a part of or the whole growing season willey, 1990. Hi michael, be sure to visit if you want information for the landscapescale tropical agroforestry success of inga alley cropping in honduras. Jan 14, 2017 intercropping can lead to poorer yields. Intercropping is a method of growing multiple crops in the same piece of land during same crop season. You can plant early crops that will be removed from the garden alongside lateseason crops. The scientific literature has documented the value of intercropping legumes with nonlegumes, especially grain crops, though much of this work has been done in the tropics for example.
For example, radishes are often planted with carrots. Sep 02, 2015 intercropping is different from crop rotation because two or more crops are grown one after other. The first is a collection of descriptive papers on existing intercropping systems. Before jumping feet first into yet another new agricultural practise like intercropping, it is wise to first carefully consider the intricacies of the process with all the associated pros and cons and there really are two sides to this coin. It is a practice often associated with sustainable agriculture and organic farming. Principles and types intercropping is the cultivation of two or more species of crops at the same time in the same field in such a way they interact agronomically.
Intercrops maintain the soil fertility as the nutrient uptake is made from both layers of soil. Interplanting flowers and vegetables has been done by native people as long as cultivation has been known. Intercropping is an agricultural practice in which two or more crops are grown together in the same field. Intercropping vs monoculture problems with mechanized systems.
The program is starting year 8 of 10way beyond proof of concept with proof in the landscapeover 2 12 million trees plantedand 100% food security for families in 2 years founder and director is mike handsand implemented by. As a result, two or more crops are managed at the same time. Feb 10, 2000 intercropping offers farmers the opportunity to engage natures principle of diversity on their farms. The c 4 species is usually dominant in an intercrop of mixed types, and its advantage in these mixtures is shown by the relatively small change in its yield with increasing density of the companion species. Intercropping also poses a special problem for crop rotation. Mixed intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops that are randomly distributed rather than grown in rows. Intercrops maintain the soil fertility as the nutrient uptake is. When you sow a second crop in time to mature after a first crop has produced.
Types of intercropping crops can be grown together as intercrops in a variety of ways. One benefit of this practice may be disease control. Oct 17, 2019 intercropping is best done on a soil with a high level of fertility. Non crop plants are typically used as living mulches in vegetable systems including buckwheat and white clover, trifolium repens l. However, the use of land equivalent ratio ler as a measure for calculating the cropping advantage of intercrops over sole crops is too simple. Modernization of farming equipment has changed our farming practices into what they are today, which is largely monocropping. Intercropping persisted in agrarian societies after being rejected by the western world with the advent of highly mechanized farming. Plant spatial arrangements, planting rates, and maturity dates must be considered when planning intercrops. Planting both the main crop and the intercrop in rows. Examples planting alternating rows of maize and beans, or growing a cover crop in between the cereal rows.
When you have at least two types of vegetable with at least one in rows. Types of intercropping practices mixed or multiple cropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field without a row arrangement. Intercropping of compatible plants also encourages biodiversity, by providing a habitat for a variety of insects and soil organisms that would not be present in a single crop environment. The main types of intercropping are mixed intercropping, relay intercropping, row intercropping, and strip intercropping. It has many advantages, related to the complementary use of environmental resources by the component crops. Vandermeer, 1992 and is one mechanism by which the functional diversity of an agroecosystem can be increased brooker et al. Intercropping creates biodiversity, which attracts a variety of beneficial and predatory insects that isnt possible with monoculture gardening. It acts as an insurance against failure of crops in abnormal year. Advancing the planting date of beans with different maize plant types. Row intercropping, mixed intercropping, strip intercropping and relay intercropping are most important types of intercropping. If plants from two families are mixed in the same bed or field, however, achieving a. Row intercropping, for instance, means growing a second vegetable type in between rows, while mixed intercropping means growing several types together without a standard arrangement. Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land with no distinct row arrangement. Harvest gains from intercropping aggie horticulture.
Pdf a general overview on intercropping and its advantages in. While adapting intercropping or mixed cropping methods separate application of adequate fertilizes and manures to the individual crop are essential. Multiple cropping is not a new form of agricultural technology, but instead is an ancient means of intensive farming. Ppt intercropping powerpoint presentation free to view. Intercropping can also be defined as the growing of two or more crops together in proximity on the same piece of land or cultivation of more than one crop at the same. Apr 15, 2020 intercropping is an agricultural practice in which two or more crops are grown together in the same field. The main purpose of intercropping is to produce more crops in a given area. Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of more than one species or. Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of multiple crop species, has been used throughout history and remains common among farmers of small landholdings in the tropics. Ratio of the area needed under sole cropping to one of intercropping at the same management level to give an equal amount to yield. Example planting alternating strips of maize, soybean and finger millet.
Oct 18, 2018 advantages of intercropping system are. Otherwise known as basic interplanting, involves mixing crops in any available space when you plant two crops together and do not use rows, such as when you have two different sized. Theophrastus, among the greatest early greek philosophers and natural scientists, notes that wheat, barley, and certain pulses could be planted at various times during the growing season often integrated. Row intercroppingwhen cropping involves the component crops arranged in alternate rows. The species combinations and intercrop ping systems included.
Row intercropping involves planting more than one crop simultaneously, with at least one of the crops planted in a row. Between different intercropping methods the strip intercropping is considered an efficient method for massive field culture and production that if administered well permits use of machinery and. One fundamental principle of crop rotation is the separation of plant families in time. Pdf types of interaction in intercropping of maize and. Jan 07, 2018 in coconut, three types of varieties are grown and the spacing is as follows. Interplanting and intercropping definition and tips. Pdf types of interaction in intercropping of maize and soya. This practice is ancient, as numerous records from human societies all over the world indicate. This results in an increased and better nutrient recycling in the soil, stable yields, better control of pests and diseases with increased biodiversity. The cultivation of more than one crop in the same space at the same time is known as intercropping. Intercropping patterns and different farming systems affect the yield.
Relay cropping 2nd crop planted during life cycle of first crop. How to intercrop 2 or more crops on a plot without. Living mulches may be planted on adjacent rows of the main crop, within the same row as the main crop and within close proximity of the main crop. Why some farmers try something different intercropping is defined simply as growing two or more crop types on one field. It also makes use of resources that would otherwise not be used by a single crop. When in intercropping at least one crop is planted in rows, the intercropping is called row intercropping. Mixed intercropping layout for a vegetable garden home. Ler is the sum of the fractions of the yield of the intercrops, relative to their sole crop yields. Multiple cropping has been practiced in many parts of the world. While intercropping involves the planting of more than one crop on the same piece of land at the same time, there are different methods of maximizing yield from this type of farming.
Intercropping involves the planting of two or sometimes more species in a mixture at the same time or with one species interplanted during the growth of another species. The rows make weeding and harvesting easier than with mixed intercropping. There are many spatial combinations possible for intercropping, including mixed intercropping, in which different crops are planted in the same row or without regard to row, and row intercropping, which involves planting different crops in alternating rows. Growing of two or more crops together in strips wide enough to permit separate production of crops using mechanical implements, but close enough for the crops to interact is termed as strip intercropping. Mixed intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crop species together at the same time in a. Which crops are suitable for intercropping with coconut and. Mixed intercropping, as the name implies, is the most basic form in which the component crops are totally mixed in the available space.
Garden intercropping must begin with a study of the types of plants you wish to grow, your topographical challenges, and knowledge of plant maturity and necessary spacing. Intercropping offers farmers the opportunity to engage natures principle of diversity on their farms. Intercropping is a technique for growing at least two harvests together in closeness on a similar land. Otherwise known as basic interplanting, involves mixing crops in any available space when you plant two crops together and do not use rows, such as when you have two different sized plants. It differs from crop rotation in which two or more crops are grown one after the other.
In coconut, three types of varieties are grown and the spacing is as follows. Intercropping is the companion planting method of growing one crop alongside another. The purpose behind intercropping is to increase yields by doubling up on available growing space. Rowintercropping, mixed intercropping, stripintercropping and relay intercropping are most important types of intercropping. Crops are selected such that their nutrient requirements are different. Distribution of the seeds of both the crops, or dibbling the seeds without any row arrangement. Intercropping is the practice of placing different crops in close proximity to each other. The increase in density of bean phaseolus vulgaris plants had little effect on yield of maize, but with increases in maize density, yield of both bush fig.
Intercropping principles and production practices iatp. There are at least four types of intercropping according to spatial arrangement sullivan, 2003. Reduce damage to cash crops attract beneficial organisms decrease the use of external inputs e. Intercropping helps in preventing pest and diseases to spread all through the field and furthermore increases soil fertility. Intercropping simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Intercropping is growing two or more crops next to each other at the same time. Types and advantages of intercropping agriculture and. Crops can be grown together as intercrops in a variety of ways. Ecology and cultural practices in intercropping system intercropping is a type of mixed cropping and defined as the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the. In phenomenological research comparing disease in monocrops and intercrops, primarily due to foliar fungi, intercropping reduced disease in 73% of more than 200 studies.
It is possible that both crops dont yield enough produce. Intercropping and crop rotation are not the same thing, as intercropping requires that different types of plants are grown in the same space at the same time while crop rotation is the concept of growing different types of plants in the same space at different times. Various types of intercropping were known and presumably employed in ancient greece about 300 b. Intercropping system accepts advantageous, when ler is more than 1. Pdf a general overview on intercropping and its advantages. Relay cropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second. Intercropping is a method of growing more than one crop in the same piece of land during the same crop season. Example planting wheat year after year in the same field. Monocropping is when the field is used to grow only one crop season after season. Numerous types of intercropping, all of which vary the temporal and spatial mixture to some degree, have been identified.
Intercropping of beans and corn usually with squash, as well formed the basic farming system of native americans from central america to the northeastern us. Intercropping is the practice of growing different crops in the same field. Intercropping 10 types, advantages and disadvantages. Apr 08, 2019 crop rotation is a key principle of agriculture conservation because it improves the soil structure and fertility, and because it helps control weeds, pests and diseases.
Jan 24, 2017 intercropping is the companion planting method of growing one crop alongside another. Example planting maize in the long rains, then beans during the short rains. Intercropping is best done on a soil with a high level of fertility. As explained in chapters 2 and 3, this is critical for management of diseases and, to a lesser extent, insects. Intercropping, on the other hand, is a fancy word for planting two vegetables in the same space. Intercropping maize or millet with soybean, with particular reference to planting schedule e. Examples of intercropping strategies are planting a deeprooted crop with a shallow. Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land during the part of life cycle of each.
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