Desirable characteristics of intercropping
- Intercrop should be short duration, quick growing, insensitive to photoperiod, short height, non-lodging, preferably shade tolerant or shade loving.
- Tall component crops should have erect and semi erect leaves, short stature crop should have horizontally displaced leaves.
Advantages and disadvantages of intercropping
Advantages of Intercropping
a) Better use of growth resources including light, nutrients and water.
b) Intercropping helps to suppress the weeds.
c) It helps to reduce plant and disease incidence in the crop.
d) Proper selection and management of intercropping yield stability of the crops may take place.
e) Ecological stability i.e. improvement of soil health and agro-ecosystem.
f) Intercropping helps the physical support of one crop to another crop.
g) Different types of produce can be obtained from the same field at the same time.
h) Intercropping helps to minimize the risk of crop failure.
Disadvantages
a) Intercropping is more labour intensive.
b) The control of pests and diseases or chemical weed control may be difficult.
c) Mechanization is also difficult.
d) Adverse competitive effect may reduce the yield of any crop.