What is intercropping?

Intercropping refers specifically to the practice of planting two or more crops in proximity for various agronomic benefits. This method can enhance resource use efficiency, improve soil health, and reduce pest and disease pressure compared to monocropping, where a single crop is grown in isolation. By growing multiple crops together, farmers can take advantage of different growth habits, nutrient requirements, and competitive abilities of the plants.

For example, a common intercropping system is the combination of corn and soybeans, where the corn provides vertical growth and shade, while the soybean plants, with their lower growth habit, fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting both crops. This synergistic relationship often leads to increased yields and more sustainable farming practices.

The other options describe different agricultural methods but do not accurately define intercropping. Planting one crop over another usually refers to strategies like cover cropping or sod-seeding, which are distinct from intercropping. Crop rotation involves changing the type of crop grown in a particular area seasonally, thus preventing soil depletion and disease buildup, whereas intercropping focuses on simultaneous planting. Lastly, planting without a specific plan does not constitute a recognized agricultural practice and lacks the coordination and strategy inherent in intercropping techniques.