Lesson 2.3 DESIGN - Intercropping

 

FOOD FOREST COURSE

AGRO-ECONOMY Lesson 2.3 

DESIGN - Intercropping

 

Intercropping is the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time.  A practice often associated with sustainable agriculture and organic farming, intercropping is one form of polyculture, using companion planting principles.  It is commonly used in tropical parts of the world and by various indigenous peoples but in the mechanised agriculture of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia it is far less widespread.

Intercropping may benefit crop yield or the control of some kind of pest.  The diversity of crops avoids the susceptibility of disease.  For example, a study in China showed that planting several varieties of rice in the same field increased yields by 89%, largely because of a dramatic (94%) decrease in the incidence of disease, which made pesticides redundant.

The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land.  Careful planning is required to take into account the soil, climate, crops, and varieties.  It is particularly important not to have crops competing with each other for physical space, nutrients, water, or sunlight.  Examples of intercropping strategies are planting a deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop, or planting a tall crop with a shorter crop that requires partial shade. The greater variety of crops provides habitat for more species, increasing local biodiversity.  


Intercropping of compatible plants also encourages biodiversity, by providing a habitat for a variety of insects and soil organisms that would otherwise not be present in a single crop environment.  This biodiversity can help to limit outbreaks of crop pests by increasing the diversity or abundance of natural enemies, such as spiders or parasitic wasps.

Increasing the complexity of the crop environment through intercropping also limits the places where pests can find optimal foraging or reproductive conditions.

Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison.





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