What are the benefits of intercrop?

Intercropping is the growth of two or more crops, simultaneously (Vandermeer, 1989). The major benefits of intercropping are (1) increasing the rate of crop production, with the advantage of simultaneously decreasing the risk of total crop reduction, and (2) controlling weeds (Liebman and Dyck, 1993).

What are the examples of intercrop?

Examples of successful strip intercropping practices in the United States are: alternating strips of wheat, corn and soybean 6 rows wide each; oat, corn and soybean; and 6 rows of corn with 12 rows of soybean….Intercropping and Crop Rotation.

Is intercropping more advantage than mono cropping?

Keating and Carberry (1993) also stated that intercropping offers the advantage of efficient interception and utilization of solar radiation than mono cropping. Improved utilization of radiation energy resulted in more efficient production of biomass or increased proportion of biomass partitioned to yield.

What is intercrop farming?

Intercropping involves cultivating two or more crops in a field simultaneously. Intercropping may also help to control weeds and pests. Intercropping is a sustainable practice that can improve resource-use efficiency, such as nutrients and water, allowing low input agricultural practices.

What are the disadvantages of intercropping?

Some cons of intercropping

• Intercropping is not always suited to a mechanised farming system.
• Time consuming: It requires more attention and thus increased intensive, expert management.
• There is reduced efficiency in planting, weeding and harvesting which may add to the labour costs of these operations.

How does intercropping increase yield?

Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system that two or more crops planted in a field during a growing season. Crops yield increases with intercropping due to higher growth rate, reduction of weeds, pests and diseases and more effective use of resources.

What is the most basic form of intercropping?

Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice that involves growing two or more crops in proximity….Methods

• Mixed intercropping, as the name implies, is the most basic form in which the component crops are totally mixed in the available space.
• Row cropping involves the component crops arranged in alternate rows.

What is intercropping give example?

INTER CROPPING IS GROWING TWO OR MORE CROPS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE SAME FIELD IN A DEFINITE PATTERN. A FEW ROWS OF ONE CROP ALTERNATE WITH A FEW ROWS OF A SECOND CROP. FOR EXAMPLE SOYABEAN+MAIZE OR FINGER MILLET+COWPEA. THIS WAY CROPS GIVE A BETTER TURN.

What are the disadvantages of monoculture?

Disadvantages of Monoculture Farming

• Damage to soil quality.
• Increased use of Fertilizers.
• Susceptibility to Pests.
• Increased use of Pesticides and herbicides.
• Damage to the Environment.
• Loss of Biodiversity.
• Increased Susceptibility to diseases.
• Actually lower yields.

What are the 3 ways of planting intercrop?

Most practical systems are variations of these (3). Row intercropping – growing two or more crops at the same time with at least one crop planted in rows. Strip intercropping – growing two or more crops together wide enough to permit separate crop machine production but close enough for the crops to interact.

What is the advantage of intercrop vegetable farming?

Crops yield increase with intercropping due to higher growth rate, reduction of weeds, pests and diseases and more effective use of resources. Pest and disease damage in intercropping is less than pure cropping. Also, weeds will be under control when crops in this kind of system have a complementary effect together.

Is intercropping good or bad?

Intercropping also averts soil runoff and can prevent the growth of weeds. Intercropping is good for the primary crops. The secondary crops can provide shelter and even protect the primary crops. Intercropping also allows you to grow cash crops or any crop that will actually supplement the primary crop in some way.