Question

What is intercropping?

Answer 1

Hint: These crops are planted in rows to prevent crop failure. This method prevents pest attack and increases the yield of both plants that are grown together.

Complete answer: The method of growing two or more crops in association with one another on the same piece of land is known as intercropping. Intercropping is performed in the following ways:
a) Relay planting: In this method, the second crop is sown when the first is about to mature.
b) Row planting: In this method, two different varieties of vegetable plants are grown with at least one of the crops is grown in rows.
c) Mixed intercropping: In this type, two crops are grown together without rows.
Benefits of intercropping are as follows:
i) Intercropping has many agronomic benefits. It leads to resource partitioning among crops. For crops to grow appropriately, soil, climate and resources are required.
ii) When two types of crops are grown together, it proves to be mutually beneficial for both plants.
iii) The two crop system increases soil quality and biodiversity as it increases the habitat for many organisms, unlike single crop environments.
iv) Intercropping prevents pest infestation as predator diversity is also increased.
Sometimes a trap crop is grown along with the main crop to attract insect pests from the main crop towards the trap crop. The repellent intercropping is performed along with the main crop. Repellent crops mask the smell of the main plant and help in the management of pests.

Note: Temporal intercropping uses the practice of sowing a fast-growing crop with a slow-growing crop so that the fast-growing crop is harvested before the slow-growing crop starts to mature.