Intercropping is a ways to increase diversity in an agricultural ecosystem. Biological benefits of intercropping maize zea mays l. Rowintercropping, mixed intercropping, stripintercropping and relayintercropping. May 19, 2018 mixed cropping have many advantages which include. Vorasoot n 1982a biological study of the benefits of intercropping in. Benefits of intercropping are crop yield, productivity of various plant constituents. Pdf a general overview on intercropping and its advantages in. Abstract intercropping is a practice mostly done by smallscale farmers. Laing 69 the relative importance of above and belowground resource use in deter mining yield advantages in pearl milletgroundnut intercropping.
Rowintercropping, mixed intercropping, stripintercropping and relayintercropping are most important types of intercropping. Nov 21, 2018 mixed farming is good for the environment and provides a variety of financial benefits. Oct 27, 2017 nature is full of examples of a symbiotic relationship. In mixed stand of maize and blackgram within 80 cm spacing in 1. Next post intercropping vegetables examples to increase your harvest.
This paper discusses the practice of intercropping in horticultural crop production to promote sustainability. Mixed farming is good for the environment and provides a variety of financial benefits. However, closely spaced palms, aged 825 years, are generally not suitable for inter and mixed cropping. Growing vegetables is a spaceheavy endeavor, and if you havent got a lot of space, it might seem like an impossible task. Intercropping is a technique for growing at least two harvests together in closeness on a similar land. Modernization of farming equipment has changed our farming practices into what they are today, which is largely monocropping. The first is a collection of descriptive papers on existing intercropping systems.
When two or more crops are sown and cultivated at the same time in the particular area, then this type of cropping pattern is known as mixed cropping. Intercrops can be more productive than growing pure stands. Intercropping systems involve two or more crop species or genotypes growing together and coexisting for a time. Intercropping legume with cereal is an extensively applied planting pattern in crop cultivation.
However intercropping increase maize yield by more than 12. Pdf advantages of maizelegume intercropping systems. It is proposed that two distinct objectives should be recognized in the evaluation of intercropping advantages. Intercropping is the practice of growing different crops in the same field. Advantages of intercropping soybean with maize under two. A general overview on intercropping and its advantages in sustainable agriculture. Its a cropping system which involves the growth of two or more plants in the same field during the same season to allow interactions between component crops. Despite the fact that intercropping has ancient roots, it is only more recently that institutional attention has been paid to this growing method. Intercropping patterns and different farming systems affect the yield and yield components of safflower and bitter vetch jalal jalilian, azin najafabadi and mohammad reza zardashti department of agronomy, faculty of agriculture, urmia university, urmia, iran abstract. Mixed intercropping layout for a vegetable garden home.
Nov 17, 2019 mixed cropping, also known as polyculture, inter cropping, or cocultivation, is a type of agriculture that involves planting two or more plants simultaneously in the same field, interdigitating the cropslike interlocking your fingersso that they grow together. Mixed or intercropping as a method of crop intensification is practiced in. This latter criterion distinguishes intercropping from mixed monocropping and rotation cropping vandermeer, 1989. Crops yield increases with intercropping due to higher growth rate, reduction of weeds, pests and diseases and more effective use of resources. Mixed cropping and intercropping are essentially two. Evaluation and presentation of intercropping advantages. Numerous types of intercropping, all of which vary the temporal and spatial mixture to some degree, have been identified. Mixed cropping 2 intercropping 3 crop rotation asked in agriculture what are the advantages intercropping. Advantages of intercropping soybean with maize under two maize plant distributions and three mineral nitrogen fertilizer rates.
Jan 25, 2017 despite the fact that intercropping has ancient roots, it is only more recently that institutional attention has been paid to this growing method. Key differences between mixed cropping and intercropping. Jan 14, 2017 intercropping is quite common around the world and it is not just farmers but also hobbyists and gardeners who practice intercropping. In mixed cropping or mixed farming, two independent crops are mixed together and grown in an area, whereas the intercropping is a multiple cropping techniques where two or more crops are grown in proximity. January 7, 2018 mani ideal growing condition coconut is a tropical crop and grown in different soil types such as laterite, coastal sandy, alluvial, and also in reclaimed soils of the marshy lowlands.
Mixed cropping, also known as polyculture, inter cropping, or cocultivation, is a type of agriculture that involves planting two or more plants simultaneously in the same field, interdigitating the cropslike interlocking your fingersso that they grow together. What are the advantages of intercropping and crop rotation. Mature plantations over 25 years old allow sufficient light to enter the understorey making conditions suitable for underplanting. Intercropping is quite common around the world and it is not just farmers but also hobbyists and gardeners who practice 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. The practice of intercropping has actually been around since farming began. Advantages of maizelegume intercropping systems article pdf available in journal of agricultural science and technology b 33. Moshira ahmed elshamy 1, tamer ibrahim abdelwahab 1, sherif ibrahim abdelwahab 1, samuel berty ragheb 2. Intercropping creates biodiversity, which attracts a variety of beneficial and predatory insects that isnt possible with monoculture gardening. Best practices alley croppingagroforestry and intercropping.
In this article, we are going to see the types and advantages of intercropping in agriculture. Multiple cropping has been practiced in many parts of the world. Intercropping offers greater financial returns for a farmer. Many of the perceived advantages in managing light in intercropping are. Crops may be planted without regard to rows mixed intercropping, in alternating rows, or with different crops alternating within the same row. Intercrops maintain the soil fertility as the nutrient uptake is made from both layers of soil. Intercropping, also referred to as mixed cropping or. Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system that two or more crops planted in a field during a growing season. Mixed or multiple cropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field without a row arrangement. Nature is full of examples of a symbiotic relationship.
The experiment was laid in split plot design in intercropping of mustard plus. The treatments were sole maize crop, sole cowpea crop, intercrop 1 spacing of 40 cm between of maize and cowpea and intercrop 2 spacing of 30 cm between maize and cowpea served as treatments the experiment was montored from november to march the resuts show that ony maize. Row intercropping, mixed intercropping, strip intercropping and relay intercropping are most important types of intercropping. Ndegwa 68 physiological aspects of maize and beans in monoculture and in association summary o. Types and advantages of intercropping agriculture and. The difference between mixed cropping and intercropping are described in the points given below. Analysis of yield advantage in mixed cropping wur edepot.
The large uolume of literature that involves intercropping can be divided into two categories. The majority of formal research to date focuses on largescale, rural production. Modifying the competitive relationship in maizebean mixtures in kenya summary o. Nov 21, 2017 key differences between mixed cropping and intercropping. Multiple cropping is not a new form of agricultural technology, but instead is an ancient means of intensive farming. Intercropping with cash crops is higher profitable. Pdf a general overview on intercropping and its advantages.
Findings show that intercropping has both advantages and disadvantages. Difference between mixed cropping and intercropping with. Plant spatial arrangements, planting rates, and maturity dates must be considered when planning intercrops. The two most common cropping systems followed by farmers are mixed cropping and intercropping. Mixed intercropping ensures that the ground is covered, and therefore weeds are suppressed. Cobenefits of intercropping as a sustainable farming. It is popular in rainfed agriculture, with limited resources, because one crop can exploit a resource that the other is not exploiting fully. Which crops are suitable for intercropping with coconut and. Intercropping is common, particularly in countries with high amounts of subsistence. Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops at the same time in the same field. An onfarm experiment was conducted in the dry season of 201220under irrigation at jigna rural village of dera district, south gonder zoneethiopia. Intercropping and crop rotation are elective methodologies connected in multiple cropping. This paper discusses the practice of intercropping in horticultural crop production to.
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. 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. There are advantages and disadvantages of intercropping. Oct 17, 2018 8it lessens likelihood of total crop failure, as you can be able to result to other mixed crop posted in organic farming tagged advantages of mixed cropping, mixed cropping post navigation.
Difference between mixed cropping and intercropping. Intercropping, also referred to as mixed cropping or polyculture, is the agricultural practice of. One disadvantage is that a farmer will require more resources, such as tools and equipment, as well as additional education. To investigate the feasibility of applying an intercropping system as a forage supply source to ruminants, two consecutive experiments experiments 1 and 2 involving a field cultivation. Luckily mixed intercropping, or growing two or more crops together. You should consider the rewards and challenges before you decide either way. Effects of intercropping on the performance of maize and. Aug 04, 2015 advantages of intercropping soybean with maize under two maize plant distributions and three mineral nitrogen fertilizer rates. Why some farmers try something different intercropping is defined simply as growing two or more crop types on one field. It acts as an insurance against failure of crops in abnormal year. Intercropping if done keeping in mind the symbiotic nature of the main crop and the considered inter crop then the result would be fantastic however if intercropping does not take into accoun. A crop is a plant that is grown on a large scale for profit or survival, e. However, forage potential and the degradability of harvested mixtures from intercropping system remain unclear. Sep 09, 2017 in this article, we are going to see the types and advantages of intercropping in agriculture.
Intercropping principles and production practices iatp. Which crops are suitable for intercropping with coconut and to fetch additional income for growers. Mixed intercropping systems can be very complex with a number of crops produced together. The present research work on intercropping has mostly focused on the suitable crop geometry and nutrient levels on mustard plus chickpea intercropping system. Intercropping includes the growing of two or more cash crops together. The experiment was conducted to assess the biological benefits of intercropping maize with fenugreek, field pea and haricot bean. Currently there is renewed interest in stripintercropping in developed countries. Intercropping is the companion planting method of growing one crop alongside another. The farmers follow some specific pattern or systems to grow crops. Types of intercropping spatial and temporal patterns several types of intercropping, all of which vary the temporal and spatial mixture to some degree, have been described andrews and kassam, 1976.
Research needs to be directed to test these alternatives. The purpose behind intercropping is to increase yields by doubling up on available growing space. Oct 18, 2018 advantages of intercropping system are. Intercropping is the agronomic practice of growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time andrews and kassam 1976. Intercropping patterns and different farming systems affect. Mixed cropping and intercropping are essentially two separate farming techniques with specific goals. Intercropping agriculture, as defined by many researchers is growing of two or more crops simultaneously in the same land. In addition to crop yield benefits, intercropping can increase soil health and reduce. Mixed intercropping, as the name implies, is the most basic form in which the component crops are totally mixed in the available space. Evaluation of mixed and intercropping of lentil and wheat. Pdf study of yield advantage of intercropping over sole.
The ler is the sum of the fractions of the yields of the. Its advantages are risk minimization, increased income and food security, reduction of soil erosion and pest and disease control. Mixed cropping, companion planting, relay cropping, interseeding, overseeding, underseeding, smother cropping, planting polycultures, and using living mulch are all forms of intercropping see glossary at the end of this chapter. Legumecereal intercropping improves forage yield, quality. When two or more crops are sown and cultivated at the same time in the particular area. Rowintercropping, mixed intercropping, stripintercropping and relayintercropping are most important types. Many different intercrop systems are discussed including mixed intercropping, strip cropping and traditional intercropping arrangements. Jan 24, 2017 intercropping is the companion planting method of growing one crop alongside another. Rowintercropping, mixed intercropping, stripintercropping and relay intercropping are most important types of intercropping. It offers a high return on the work of the farm, since all products are utilized. Criteria, advantages and disadvantages of intercropping criteria of intercrops selection for intercropping the leguminous crops and vegetables should be grown as intercrop in the young orchard. The rationale behind intercropping is that the different crops planted are unlikely to share the same insect pests and diseasedcausing pathogens and to conserve the soil.
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