Intercropping - Types and Advantages

Intercropping - Types and Advantages

Crop rotation Mixed Intercropping Relay Intercropping Row Intercropping Strip Intercropping

Intercropping and CropRotation are alternative strategies applied in Multiple Cropping.

Intercropping is a method of growing two or more crops together in proximity on the same land.  

Intercropping helps in preventing pest and diseases to spread throughout the field and also increases soil fertility. There are four types of Intercropping:

Row Inter Cropping – Growing two or more crops at the same time with at least one crop planted in rows. Example: Annual crops such as rice, corn and pineapple are commonly grown as intercrop between the rows.  Banana, Papaya, Coffee and Cacao are commonly grown in multiple rows.

Strip Inter Cropping – In this method two or more crops grow together in strips wide enough to allow separate production of crops using mechanical implements but close enough for the crops to interact. Example: Wheat, Soybean and Corn

Mixed Inter Cropping – Growing two or more crops at the same time with no distinct row arrangement. Example: Annual crops such as growing bean, corn and squash.

Relay Inter Cropping – Growing a second crop is planted into an existing crop when it has flowered but before harvesting. Example: Cassava, Cotton and Sweet Potato

In Crop rotation or Sequential cropping, two or more crops are grown one after the other in the same piece of land.  Example: Corn – Tubers – Squash – Root Crops – Tomato – Peas - Brassicas

See also:

Greehouse farming and its advantages

Crop rotation and is advantages

Ideal conditions required for growing turmeric

Soil Conservation and Methods to Prevent Soil Erosion

Soil Conservation and Methods to Prevent Soil Erosion

Contour terracing Contour trenching Crop rotation Soil Conservation techniques Soil Erosion Strip cropping Till Farming Ways to conserve soil

Soil conservation is an effort made by human to prevent soil erosion in order to retain the fertility of the soil.  Thought it is not possible to entirely prevent soil erosion, following  methods are recommended to reduce it:

Contour Farming

In contour farming, crops are cultivated along the contour of the land, so that plough marks will be on level and hold the rain.  Even during heavy rains, runoff is checked by the plants.

No Till Farming

In no till farming, crops are allowed to remain rather than being plowed under at the end of the season. This keeps soils anchored in place rather than having bare ground exposed to wind and water.

Strip Cropping

Under strip cropping three methods are followed, they are Contour Strip cropping, Field Strip cropping and Wind Strip cropping.  In these methods, plants are cultivated in parallel strips and across the slopes to prevent soil erosion.

Dry Farming

This method is followed where rainfall is low and crops that can sustain even a very low rainfall. Dry Farming is followed mainly to retain soil moisture and fertility.

Crop Rotations

Alternate crop growing in the same field ( cereal and legume ) will increase the yield and fertility of the soil.

Mulching     

Mulching helps to kill weeds and help the plants to be rooted firm in the soil.

Contour trenching and terracing

Ridges or bunds of mud are formed to check the run-off along the contour. Several 2 feet by 1 foot trenches are formed across the slopes at equal intervals.   This slows up the water flow and prevents soil washing away from farmlands.

Restoring Wet lands

Restoring wet lands is one of the effective ways to prevent soil erosion.  It absorbs rain water preventing it from carrying the soil away.

Rain Barrel

Using rain barrel underneath a downspout to collect the rain water that runs off your roof.

Sub-soiling

Soil is broken into sub-soil to increase the absorption capacity

See Also:

Type of Soil Found in India

Soil Testing and Methods to Collect Quality Sample

Soil Erosion: Processes, Prediction, Measurement, and Control