Comparison Table: Mixed Cropping vs Intercropping
Intercropping can be defined as the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity, which means that the crops are grown in the same piece of land and simultaneously in specific row patterns. It reduces the risk of crop failure.
Types of Intercropping:
There are three types of intercropping:
Row Planting: There are at least two types of vegetable plants with at least one in rows.
Mixed Intercropping: It is known as basic interplanting, it involves planting two crops together and not using rows.
Relay Planting: When the first crop is about to mature, the second crop is sown.
Benefits of Intercropping
Resource Partitioning: Taking a single piece of land and growing different crops on it requires different strategies. Factors such as soil, climate and crop varieties should be taken into consideration. However if done correctly, intercropping shows many agronomic benefits.
Mutualism: Growing two plants can be beneficial for both plants with respect to their fitness and yield. In multi-tier systems, coconuts and bananas are produced in the upper and middle-tier respectively, pineapple, ginger and other medicinal or aromatic plants occupy the lowest tier. It encourages biodiversity by providing a habitat for a wide range of soil microorganisms and insects that would not be seen in a single-crop environment.
Pest Management: Crop diversity also improves pest management. Intercropping limits outbreaks of crop pests as it increases predator biodiversity. There are multiple ways pests can be controlled by intercropping.
Trap Cropping: This involves planting a support crop which will attract insects and keep them away from the production crop.
Repellent Intercrops: This involves planting a supporting crop which will act as a repellent and mask the smell of the production crop and keep insects away from them.
Push-pull Cropping: This type of cropping uses the advantages of both trap and repellent cropping.
Improved use of growing resources such as nutrients, light, and moisture.
Reduce losses in the event that one of the component crops fails.
A farmer can increase his yield by increasing the unit area.
With the time dimensions, better use of space is possible.
Intercrops can help us control weeds more effectively.
Reduces the likelihood of soil crust formation.
Reduce losses in the event that one of the component crops fails.
Intercropping will also help to improve soil fertility.
It prevents soil erosion.
Pests and diseases of the major crop are controlled to some extent.
Stability in the environment.
Complementary crops will be supplemented by cultivation strategies for the main crop.
Some crops benefit from the shade and physical support it gives.
It offers farmers additional cash.
It meets the farmers' everyday needs.
Intercropping will also provide more employment opportunities for agrarians.
What is Mixed Cropping?
Mixed cropping, also known as multiple cropping, is similar to intercropping and involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. This type of cropping method can improve the fertility of the soil and increase crop yield. The products and waste from one crop plant help in the growth of the other crop plant and vice-versa. This method of crop production is insurance against crop failure in abnormal weather conditions. It helped farmers to improve crop yield and economy and avoid crop failure which was common in India and Asian countries.
A farmer plants one line of one crop, then a line of another crop and in this way, both crops can grow better. For example, if in one line the crop is a legume and in another line, it is the main crop then the main crop takes the nitrogen from the soil and the legume replenishes the nitrogen content in the soil. Nitrogen is fixed in the root nodules of the leguminous plants to keep the soil fertile by fixing the soil nitrogen in the form of nitrates. This helps the farmers to produce large quantities of crops without the nitrogen being depleted from the soil.
Multiple-cropping patterns can be described by the number of crops produced per year and the intensity of crop overlap. Double or triple cropping signifies systems with two or three crops planted simultaneously with no overlap in the growth cycle. It is not the same as crop rotation in which different crops are planted in the same field in different years. Crop rotation can reduce soil fertility as some plants can add nitrogen in the soil and some take it out.
An example of mixed cropping is that of the American three crop plants: beans, maize and cucurbits (pumpkins and squash). They are also known as the three sisters. These crops were domesticated at different times however, they were combined afterwards to form an important component of Native American agriculture and cuisine. The mixed cropping method has been historically documented by the Iroquois and the Seneca tribes in the United States and is said to begin sometime after 1000 C.E.
Benefits of Mixed Cropping
Mixed cropping is a tried-and-true, risk-free approach. Farmers have chosen mixed cropping for the advantages listed below.
A Wide Range of Produce
Lower Chances Of Crop Failure
Improves the Fertility of the Soil
Weed Management
Controlling Pests
Yield Enhancement
Although both methods may look similar, there are many distinguishing characteristics between mixed cropping and intercropping. We will discuss them below.
Differentiate Between Mixed Cropping and Intercropping
Key Differences Between Mixed Cropping and Intercropping
The following points explain the differences between mixed cropping and intercropping:
Mixed cropping is a form of cropping pattern in which two or more crops are sown and grown in the same area at the same time. Intercropping, on the other hand, is a way of cultivating crops in which two different types of crops are sown and farmed in a certain pattern on the same piece of land.
In intercropping, seeds are sown in different rows in a precise order. In the case of mixed cropping, however, no such order is observed.
In the event of mixed cropping, the seeds are appropriately integrated and mingled in the field. Intercropping, on the other hand, does not require any mixing prior to seeding.
The same fertilizer and pesticide are used on all of the crops in mixed cropping. Intercropping, on the other hand, uses a particular fertilizer and insecticide for each crop.
Mixed cropping is used to lessen the likelihood of crop failure due to bad weather. Intercropping, on the other hand, aids in enhancing crop productivity.
In mixed cropping, there is competition amongst the crops planted, whereas, in intercropping, there is no such competition.
Conclusion
To summarise, intercropping is a superior type of mixed cropping, and all of the crop combinations used in mixed cropping can be used in intercropping as well. Mixed cropping harvests and markets the yields of numerous crops in a mixed form. Harvesting and marketing of the crops are done at separate times in intercropping.
FAQs on Difference Between Mixed Cropping and Intercropping
1. What is the main difference between mixed cropping and intercropping?
The primary difference lies in the sowing pattern. In mixed cropping, seeds of two or more crops are mixed together before sowing, resulting in no definite row pattern. In contrast, intercropping involves sowing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field but in a definite pattern, such as alternate rows.
2. What is mixed cropping and what is its main purpose?
Mixed cropping is an agricultural practice where two or more different crops are grown together on the same piece of land without any specific arrangement or rows. The main purpose is to minimise the risk of total crop failure. If conditions are unfavourable for one crop, the other may still survive and yield a harvest.
3. What is intercropping and how is it practised?
Intercropping is the practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same field in a structured and definite arrangement. It is typically practised by sowing crops in alternate rows. The goal of intercropping is to maximise the use of resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients to increase productivity per unit area.
4. Can you give some common examples of mixed cropping and intercropping combinations?
Certainly. Common examples include:
- Mixed Cropping Examples: Sowing Wheat + Gram, or Groundnut + Sunflower seeds together.
- Intercropping Examples: Planting Soybean and Maize in alternate rows (e.g., two rows of soybean, then two rows of maize), or Finger millet (Bajra) + Cowpea (Lobia).
5. What are the key advantages of practising mixed cropping?
The key advantages of mixed cropping are:
- Risk Reduction: It provides insurance against the failure of one of the crops.
- Improved Soil Fertility: If a leguminous crop is included, it helps in nitrogen fixation, enriching the soil.
- Pest and Weed Control: The crop diversity can help suppress certain pests, diseases, and weeds.
- Balanced Nutrient Uptake: Different crops may draw nutrients from different soil depths.
6. Why is a specific row pattern used in intercropping but not necessarily in mixed cropping?
The specific row pattern in intercropping is intentional and strategic. It ensures that the crops do not compete excessively with each other for light, nutrients, and water. This systematic arrangement, known as resource partitioning, allows for easier management activities like fertilising, weeding, and harvesting for each specific crop. In mixed cropping, the focus is on risk mitigation through diversity, not on optimising the arrangement for resource management.
7. How does intercropping differ from crop rotation?
The main difference is based on time and space. Intercropping involves growing different crops simultaneously in the same space at the same time. In contrast, crop rotation involves growing different crops sequentially on the same land but in different seasons or years. They are not mutually exclusive and can be combined for enhanced soil health and farm productivity.
8. Is intercropping a type of mixed cropping?
No, they are better understood as two distinct methods under the broader category of multiple cropping. While both involve growing more than one crop on the same land, their core principles differ. Mixed cropping uses random mixing for risk reduction, whereas intercropping uses a systematic pattern to increase productivity. One is not a subtype of the other.
9. What is the difference between mixed cropping and mixed farming?
This is a common point of confusion. Mixed cropping exclusively refers to the cultivation of two or more plant species together. On the other hand, mixed farming is a much broader agricultural system that involves both growing crops and raising livestock (like cattle, poultry, or fish) on the same farm. Farming includes animals, while cropping does not.
10. What are some limitations or disadvantages of intercropping?
Despite its benefits, intercropping has some limitations:
- Management can be complex as different crops have different needs.
- Applying fertilisers or pesticides becomes difficult if one crop is sensitive to a chemical needed by the other.
- Mechanisation (using machines for sowing or harvesting) can be challenging due to the different maturation times and physical structures of the crops.
