What is Intercropping: Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making use of resources that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop. Advantages of intercropping a) Total crop yields per unit area are higher because the farmer gets a product from each of the crops. b) Soil erosion is reduced since there is a good crop cover over the soil surface. Certain crops, such as maize, when grown in pure stands do not provide a sufficient cover over the soil. c) There is insurance against total crop failure. If one of the crops fails, farmer can get something from another crop. d) Crops intercropped with legumes benefit from the nitrogen fixed by the legumes. e) It enables farmers to have a variety of crops that provide a balanced diet. f) Weeds are suppressed since little space is left between various crops. g) If one of the crops is shallow rooted and the other one deep rooted, the nutrients in the soil are well utilized by both crops. h) Harvesting is spread, hence continuous supply of fresh food is assured. This is very important because their produce does not store well. i) An association of crops is less prone to attacks by pests and diseases. j) Intercropping with younger Agro-forestry trees protects the soil from erosion and gives the farmer additional returns in terms of wood fuel and fruits when the trees come into bearing. k) Low labour requirements because weeding one crop prepares the seedbed for the next crop to be planted.

1. What is Intercropping:
Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of
intercroppingistoproduceagreateryieldonagivenpieceof landbymakinguse of resourcesthatwould
otherwise not be utilized by a single crop.
Advantages of intercropping
a) Total crop yieldsperunitareaare higherbecause the farmergetsa productfromeach of the crops.
b) Soil erosionisreducedsince there is a good crop cover over the soil surface.Certain crops,such as
maize, when grown in pure stands do not provide a sufficient cover over the soil.
c) There is insurance against total crop failure.If one of the crops fails,farmercan get somethingfrom
another crop.
d) Crops intercropped with legumes benefit from the nitrogen fixed by the legumes.
e) It enables farmers to have a variety of crops that provide a balanced diet.
f) Weeds are suppressed since little space is left between various crops.
g) If one of the crops isshallowrootedandthe otherone deeprooted,the nutrientsinthe soilare well
utilized by both crops.
h) Harvestingisspread,hencecontinuoussupplyoffreshfoodisassured.Thisisveryimportantbecause
their produce does not store well.
i) An association of crops is less prone to attacks by pests and diseases.
j) Intercropping with younger Agro-forestrytrees protects the soil from erosion and gives the farmer
additional returns in terms of wood fuel and fruits when the trees come into bearing.
k) Low labourrequirementsbecause weedingone croppreparesthe seedbedfor the nextcrop to be
planted.