What is Intercropping?
In Agriculture, Intercropping is a system of growing more than one crop on the same piece of land and at the same time in a definite row pattern. Three rows of different intercrops can be grown after each row of the main crop. Intercrop is a crop grown among different plants in the space between the two rows. The most common motive of intercropping is to provide greater yield on the given piece of land by utilizing the resources more efficiently. A resource that is not useful to one crop can be used by another intercrop.
In this blog, you will read up about a cropping pattern known as INTERCROPPING. Also, what are the various kinds of intercropping and the Pros and Cons of intercropping? This blog deals with everything you need to know about Intercropping. Let’s begin.
Cropping Patterns
The cropping pattern means to the crops, crop arrangements, and management strategies used for a specific agricultural field over a while. It comprises all temporal factors of managing an agricultural system. In India, the cropping pattern depends upon rainfall, temperature, soil, or, climate. To obtain a greater yield, different cropping patterns are practiced. Terracing and contour farming are also cropping patterns used widely. Cropping patterns can be classified into three types:-
1. Mixed Cropping
The production of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land is called mixed cropping. This cropping practice involves the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously within the given space, with no distinct row arrangement. This means that the crops are completely mixed in the available space. It is an easy method to do but makes fertilization, weeding, and harvesting complicated. Crops may tangle or compete with each other because of being close to each other. For example- wheat and gram are grown on one land together. A mixed cropping pattern minimizes the risk of crop failure. The crop yield gets better. This pattern allows more than one variety of crops to be grown at the same time.
MIXED CROPPING
2. Crop Rotaion
The practice of harvesting two or more crops on a particular land in a pre-planned succession is called crop rotation. Different types of crops are grown in a series of growing seasons instead of a single season. Crop rotation is a key component of conservation agriculture because it improves soil structure and fertility. Crop rotation helps to control pests and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers. Crop rotation is an old and effective cultural control technique.
3. Intercropping
What is intercropping in agriculture?
The production of two or more crops on the same piece of land but in a definite pattern or proximity that can be rowed, trapped, temporal, and many more. It is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously in the same region with some rows of one crop alternating with some rows of another. Intercropping is done to maximize beneficial interactions while minimizing competition. The goal behind intercropping is to grow more than one crop on a particular piece of land and provide a greater yield. The crops to be grown together should have different abilities like different maturation times and different water requirements. The reasons for Intercropping comprise the use of resources and given space to the fullest. Intercropping ensures better yields and saves resources to a greater extent.
Types of Intercropping:-
Intercropping is done in different methods or patterns that can be row intercropping, trap intercropping, alley intercropping, mixed intercropping, strip intercropping, relay intercropping, and many more. Let’s discuss some of them in detail.
1. Row intercropping:-
In this intercropping pattern, the crops are grown in alternate rows within the same field. Crops like rice, pineapple, and corn are commonly grown as intercrops between the rows of the main crop. This practice helps in optimum use of land space and terminates the growth of weeds which causes damage to the main crops.
ROW INTERCROPPING
2. Strip intercropping:-
This practice is almost similar to Row Intercropping. Two or more crops are cultivated in broad strips so that the crops can be managed separately. But the crops are tight enough to interact with each other. This is called strip intercropping. The remainder from one crop can be used as soil cover for neighboring strips.
STRIP INTERCROPPING
3. Temporal intercropping:-
This practice comprises the growing of a fast-growing crop with a slow-growing crop. So that the fast-growing crop is collected before the slow-growing crop begins to mature.
4. Relay intercropping:-
In this intercropping, the life cycle of one crop overlaps with the other crop. Both the crops invest some part of the season. Example of relay intercropping- rice, cauliflower, and onion gourds are grown in this manner. The drawbacks are management requirements are higher and mechanization is difficult.
RELAY INTERCROPPING
5. Alley intercropping:-
Alley refers to a narrow passage in between something. Alley Intercropping refers to the planting of rows of trees in between the companion crop rows. The main objectives of planting trees or shrubs in between are to improve farm income, crop production, and the protection of crops. It is a way of combining crop and tree production on the same piece of land.
ALLEY INTERCROPPING
6. Trap intercropping:-
As the name hints, trap intercropping is all about trapping pests. This practice includes an attractant crop as an intercrop in alternate rows with the main production crop. Both crops are close to each other. The intercrop used is more attractive than the production crop to the insect due to which insect is attracted to the trap crop. Insecticides can be applied to trap crops (attractant crops) so that the use of pesticides could be minimized all over the area. The basic idea is to attract fungi or insects by trapping them through trap crops thus protecting the cash crop from insects.
TRAP INTERCROPPING
6. Guard intercropping
The thorny or hard plants are grown or planted around the production crops in order to safeguard them. That plants are known to be guard crops or intercrops and this practice is called guard intercropping. Guard crops are used as barriers to protect the main crop from cattle attacks and winds.
7. Repellent intercropping
Repellent is a substance that can deter insects or pests from approaching and settling over the production crops. So, repellent intercropping has intercrops that have a repellent effect on certain pests. That is why this practice is known as repellent intercropping. The repellent crop is masked with the smell of the production crop to keep pests or insects away from the production crop.
Repellent intercropping
Examples of Intercropping:-
Row Intercropping Example:-
A study approves growing four maize rows with six soybean rows. The benefit includes nitrogen fixation is done by legumes in symbiosis with the bacteria of the Rhizobium genus.
Trap Intercropping Example:- Plants like mustard, marigold which are attractant plants are planted to attract insects in place of which production crop get avoided by the insects.
Relay Intercropping Example:- Cassava, sweet potato, cotton, and sesban with corn; Chickpea, wheat, and lentil with upland rice.
Guard Intercropping Example:-Safflower around pea, wheat, mesta around sugarcane, jowar around maize.
Alley Intercropping Example:- Forage crops can be cultivated between rows of trees for livestock grazing.
Rules to follow during intercropping:-
The main motive of intercropping is to combine those crops which could benefit one another other than competing. The intercropping practices are based on the principles concerning the maturation times, growth habits, nutrients required, and many more factors.
The intercropping practices should be performed reminding some points like:-
Choosing species with comparable water needs.
Adjusting such plants or crops which do not compete for sunlight.
Plant legumes with non-legumes to increase the concentration of nitrogen and enhance soil fertility.
Fitting shallow-rooted plants with deep-rooted plants.
Combine long growing and broad growing species.
Benefits of Intercropping:-
Intercropping has considerable advantages which are directed at improving yields and creative use of land and resources.
Economical Benefit:- The secondary crop ensures the benefits if primary crop production fails.
Appropriate usage of land:- Cultivation of crops in between rows or strips allows usage of land or soil in a more beneficial way.
Basic Crop Protection:- Repellent or trap intercropping protects the production crop from pests or insects. Intercrops protect the crop from winds and shelter them from extra sunlight as well.
Less use of Fertilizers:- Intercropping contributes well to soil erosion which limits the requirement of the use of fertilizing applications.
Better use of Natural Resources:- The remaining resources that are not useful to the primary crop can be used by the secondary crop. It can also be used as soil cover for another crop.
Disadvantages of Intercropping:-
Costly and Complicated:- Intercropping is expensive in terms of harvesting. It consumes plenty of money and water. Proper spacing and careful cultivar selection are needed.
Competition:- Sometimes intercrops begin to compete with the main crop for the nutrients.
Time- Consuming:- Intercropping is a time-consuming cropping pattern as it requires more attention and hence is a labor-intensive activity.
The biggest challenge of using an intercropping technique is advanced planning of planting, fertilization, cultivation, and harvesting of more than one crop in a particular land.