Abstract
The increased diversity in an agro-ecosystem can be brought about by intercropping (cultivating two or more crops at the same time in the same field). The main benefits of intercropping which increase crop yields include higher growth rate; better utilization of resources; ecological balance; increase soil conservation through greater ground cover; better lodging resistance for crops susceptible to lodging; insurance against crop failure; reduced damage by pests, diseases, and weeds; improvement in the quality and quantity of products; and greater financial stability. The main types of intercropping are mixed intercropping, relay intercropping, row intercropping, and strip intercropping. By using the plants from Leguminosae family in intercropping, the soil fertility can be increased due to the increasing amount of biological nitrogen fixation. Intercropping minimizes environmental impacts of agriculture through reduced fertilizer and pesticide requirements.
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Reddy, P.P. (2016). Intercropping. In: Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2702-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2702-4_5
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