MP Board · Class 9 · Science · Improvement in Food ResourcesWhat is intercropping? How does it differ from mixed cropping? Mention one crop combination suitable for intercropping and list two distinct advantages of this farming practice.

Intercropping and its Comparison

Intercropping is a practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite row pattern (e.g., a few rows of one crop alternate with a few rows of another crop).

Difference from Mixed Cropping: In mixed cropping, seeds of two or more crops are mixed and sown randomly without any specific row arrangement. In contrast, intercropping maintains a strict row pattern, making crop management and harvesting easier.

Example of Intercropping Combination: Soybean + Maize, or Finger millet (Ragi) + Cowpea.

Advantages of Intercropping:

1. Optimal Resource Utilization: Crops with different nutrient requirements are selected so that nutrients in the soil are utilized efficiently without competition.
2. Pest and Disease Control: It prevents pests and diseases from spreading easily to all plants of one crop, reducing total crop damage.