Growing two or more crops in close proximity, usually in a definite row pattern on the same field at the same time, is the practice of:

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops at the same time on the same field, in close proximity, usually in a definite row arrangement. For example, a farmer may grow one row of pigeon pea after every two or three rows of sorghum.

Types of intercropping:

• Row intercropping: crops are grown in separate, regular rows, such as maize with soybean.
• Strip intercropping: crops are grown in wider strips, allowing separate management but still interacting.
• Mixed intercropping (mixed cropping): crops are sown together without a distinct row pattern.
• Relay intercropping: a second crop is sown before the first one is harvested.

Common combinations in India:

• Sorghum or pearl millet with pigeon pea (tur).
• Maize with soybean, cowpea or black gram.
• Groundnut with pigeon pea or castor.
• Sugarcane with potato, onion or wheat in the early stages.
• Cotton with groundnut, black gram or green gram.
• Coconut or arecanut gardens with banana, pepper or cocoa (multi-storey cropping).

Principles of intercropping:

• The crops should have different rooting depths, so they draw water and nutrients from different soil layers.
• They should differ in growth duration and canopy shape, so they do not compete strongly for light.
• A cereal is often combined with a pulse.

Advantages:

• Better use of land, light, water and nutrients.
• Higher total yield and income per unit area than growing either crop alone.

Reduced risk of total crop failure, since if one crop fails, the other may still give some return. This is important in rain-fed areas.

Reduced pests, diseases and weeds, because the mixture disturbs pest movement and covers the ground.

Reduced soil erosion through better ground cover.

Disadvantage: mechanisation and management become more complex.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Monocropping is growing only one crop on the field.
• ✗Relay cropping is sowing a second crop into a standing crop before it is harvested, so the two overlap only partly.
• ✗Ratoon cropping is raising a new crop from the stubble or roots of the previous crop, as in sugarcane.