Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of multiple crop species, has been used throughout history and remains common among farmers of small landholdings in the tropics. Intercropping systems reduced the values of yield attributes and grain yield of maize than sole cropping of maize, but significant reduction in cob length, kernelsrow, grainscob and grain. Intercropping is widely practiced by cassava growers in africa, but is less frequent in the more commercially oriented production systems of latin america and asia. Feb 10, 2000 intercropping offers farmers the opportunity to engage natures principle of diversity on their farms. Intercropping involves cultivating two or more crops in a field simultaneously. One benefit of this practice may be disease control. Intercropping is a ways to increase diversity in an agricultural ecosystem. Plant spatial arrangements, planting rates, and maturity dates must be considered when planning intercrops. Cropping systems, an important component of a farming system, represents a. Under multiyear drought conditions, wheatfallow one crop in two years and wheatgrain sorghumfallow two crops in three years cropping systems maintained land.
Intercropping gives additional yield incomeunit area than sole cropping. Early research focused on supplying nitrogen with legume intercropping plants, but now a. Intercropping is preferred to sole cropping as a result of superior yield due to better absorption of resources, and. In phenomenological research comparing disease in monocrops and intercrops, primarily due to foliar fungi, intercropping reduced disease in 73% of more than 200 studies. This analysis will help to promote mechanizedbased maizesoybean strip intercropping system as. Intercropping patterns and different farming systems. Aikens research goal is to contribute knowledge of factors regulating the crop transpiration fraction of the annual water budget and the transpiration efficiency of yield formation for waterlimited cropping systems. The results from this study have shown that intercropping pattern has a great potential in reducing weed infestation in cropping systems especially in farming system with low external. Alley cropping or hedgerow intercropping is an agroforestry practice in which perennial, usually leguminous trees or shrubs are grown simultaneously with an arable crop. Intercropping systems reduced the values of yield attributes and grain yield of maize than sole cropping of maize, but significant reduction in cob length, kernelsrow, grainscob and grain yield. Intercropping and crop rotation are alternative strategies applied in multiple cropping, the growing of two or more crops in the same piece of. Intercropping persisted in agrarian societies after being rejected by the western world with the advent of highly mechanized farming.
Multiple cropping has been practiced in many parts of the world. Intercropping is an agricultural practice in which two or more crops are grown together in the same field. Monocropping is when the field is used to grow only one crop. Comparative analysis of maizesoybean strip intercropping. Pushpull cropping, this is a mixture of trap cropping and repellant intercropping. Intercropping systems in sustainable agriculture frontiers. One of the important methods of intensive cropping, allowing the stubbles of the original crop to strike again after harvesting and to raise another crop. Inter cropping system utilizes resources efficiently and their productivity is increased reddy and redid. This work was carried on intercropping maizecommonbean under field conditions in setif region of algeria. Guidelines for intercropping sustainable agriculture. Okigbo and greenland 1976 estimate that 80% of the cultivated area of semiarid west africa is intercropped.
The importance of legumes in cereal cropping systems author. Cropping systems northwest researchextension center. System is defined as a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a. Floral resources intercropping with insectary plants also called companion plants. In addition to cash crops, cover crops are also sometimes used in intercropping. The practice of intercropping has actually been around since farming began. Mixed cropping, also known as polyculture, intercropping, 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. Systems are often referred to in distinguishi ng one type of multiple cropping from another. Sequential cropping growing one crop after another in the same year and intercropping are types of multiple cropping and include numerous different systems. The results from this study have shown that intercropping pattern has a great potential in reducing weed infestation in cropping systems especially in farming system with low external input.
Nov 17, 2019 mixed cropping, also known as polyculture, intercropping, 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. The nwrec crops program maintains longterm cropping system studies to evaluate cropping intensit. It helps to avoid intercrop competition and thus a higher number of crop plants are grown per unit area. 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. Maize and pigeonpea intercropping systems in mpumalanga. This is particularly true of specific plant species. This practice has regained attention worldwide, particularly in the tropics due to its beneficial effects on soil fertility and nutrient cycling. However, the use of land equivalent ratio ler as a measure for calculating the cropping advantage of intercrops over sole crops is too simple. Cropping system the cropping patterns used on a farm and their interaction with farm resources, other farm enterprises, and available. The space between rows of corn, for example, is essentially wasted space that could be used for intercropping. Multiple cropping is not a new form of agricultural.
Multiple cropping in agriculture, multiple cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same piece of land during a single growing season. When fertilizer n is limited, biological nitrogen fixation bnf is the major source of n in legumecereal mixed cropping systems. Cropping systems in vegetables linkedin slideshare. It can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. Mixed cropping, also known as polyculture, intercropping, or cocultivation, is a type of agriculture that involves planting two or more plants simultaneously in the same field. Row cropping is popular because it also uses space that would otherwise remain wasted. Intercropping principles and production practices iatp. The space between rows of corn, for example, is essentially wasted space that could.
Top 12 types of cropping system your article library. The rows make weeding and harvesting easier than with mixed intercropping. Why some farmers try something different intercropping is defined simply as growing two or more crop types on one field. Harvesting options for intercrops include hand harvest.
Growing legumes in cereal cropping systems is a way to improve and sustain soil fertility and crop yields. Agronomy and cropping systems 95 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 plant density ha. Cropping systems, an important component of a farming system, represents a cropping pattern used on a farm and their interaction with farm resources, other farm. Intercrops can be more productive than growing pure stands. In india, pigeonpea is generally intercropped with cereals, other legumes, cotton gossypium sp, and castor ricinus communis saxena 1999. As intercropping is an important aspect of smallholderfarmer crop production systems, a study was initiated to evaluate the performance of p igeonpea. 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. Okigbo and greenland 1976 estimate that 80% of the cultivated. Multiple cropping is not a new form of agricultural technology, but instead is an ancient means of intensive farming. Planting both the main crop and the intercrop in rows. Effect of planting density and growth habit on production of commercial cassava roots. The degree of spatial and temporal overlap in the two crops can vary somewhat, but both requirements must be met for a cropping system to be an intercrop. Intercropping competition between apple trees and crops in. Oct 18, 2018 inter cropping gives additional yield incomeunit area than sole cropping.
Research needs to be directed to test these alternatives. Multiple cropping an overview sciencedirect topics. Apr 15, 2020 intercropping is an agricultural practice in which two or more crops are grown together in the same field. Kumar and amitesh kumar singh institute of agricultural sciences, banaras hindu university, varanasi. Multispecies systems are diverse and may include annual and perennial crops on a gradient of complexity from 2 to n species. Cropping pattern is a dynamic concept because it changes over space and time. This analysis will help to promote mechanizedbased maizesoybean strip intercropping system as a highe. However, there are numerous other potential tree, shrub and crop combinations. Kumar and amitesh kumar singh institute of agricultural sciences, banaras hindu university, varanasi 221 005, india. In many areas of the world, intercropping still dominates the cropping systems. Intercropping includes the growing of two or more cash crops together. Intercrops provide shade and support to the other crop. Nitrogen transfer from legume to cereal increases the cropping system s.
Cereallegume intercropping increases dry matter production and grain yield more than their monocultures. Conventional farming and monocropping systems in addition to depletion the natural resource, is caused environmental pollution. Cropping pattern which involve the raising of crops, animals and or trees. Sequential systems are most common where the growing season is long, and intercropping systems are most popular where labor is readily available and inexpensive. Abstract the traditional practice of mixed cropping has gained popularity in recent years in the. This practice is ancient, as numerous records from human societies.
Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legumecereal. Pdf a general overview on intercropping and its advantages. Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system. Alley cropping hedgerow intercropping agroforestry. Vine crops are excellent for intercropping with corn because they fill the space between rows but are not competitive with the corn for nutrients. This practice is ancient, as numerous records from human societies all over the world indicate. Mechanical operations in mechanizedbased maizesoybean intercropping systems of. Bedoussac and others published grain legumecereal intercropping systems find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Floral resources intercropping with insectary plants also called companion plants can be used to enhance the activity of predators and parasitoids by providing them with habitat and food sources such as nectar, pollen, and alternate hosts or prey. Growing legumes in cereal cropping systems is a way to improve and sustain soil fertility and crop. Maizelablab intercropping is promising in supporting the.
Intercropping can be defined as a multiple cropping system that two or more crops planted in a field during a growing season. Example planting alternating strips of maize, soybean and finger millet. Currently most of the emphasis and research focuses on pecan, chestnut and eastern black walnut alley cropping applications. Jan 24, 2017 row cropping is popular because it also uses space that would otherwise remain wasted. Maizelablab intercropping is promising in supporting the sustainable intensification of smallholder cropping systems under high climate risk in southern africa. The soil n use patterns of component crops depend on the n source and legume species. For example, in the maize crop system, maize is the dominant crop which is grown in association with other crops. Several experimental studies have investigated the potential beneficial effect of intercropping on cassava virus control in africa. The importance of legumes in cereal cropping systems. Stir cropping involves planting broad strips of several crops in the field. Intercropping is an allencompassing term for the practice of growing two or more crops in close proximity.
Nov 14, 2017 multiple cropping in agriculture, multiple cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same piece of land during a single growing season. The most important mineral element needed by plants is nitrogen, which legumes can help to provide. Productivity and profitability of maize based intercropping. It can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops. Intercropping patterns and different farming systems affect.
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