Mixed Cropping in Agriculture: Advantages and Disadvantages

Mixed Cropping

This is the process of growing two or more crops together on the same piece of land simultaneously. The cereals are usually mixed with legumes; for example, wheat is mixed with peas, gram, or mustard. Cotton is grown and mixed with sunflowers.

The objectives of crop mixtures are to get convenient installments of cash returns, especially in irrigated crops; to achieve a better distribution of labor throughout the year; to utilize available space and nutrients to the maximum extent possible; to safeguard against hazards of weather, diseases, and pests; to meet daily requirements like pulses, oil seeds, fibers among others; and to get balanced cattle feed.

To obtain the maximum benefit from the subsidiary crop mixed with the main crop, make sure it does not interfere with the growth of the main crop, matures earlier or later than the main crop, is preferably a legume, and has different growth habits and nutrient requirements.

The subsidiary crop should have different rooting depths and ramifications and should not be very exacting in climatic requirements.

In mixed cropping and intercropping, the growing of two or more crop species or cultivars takes place simultaneously in the same field with the aim of improving resource use efficiency and yield stability, and decreasing losses due to possible pathogen and pest infestation.

Mixed cropping may be the mixing of seeds and raising two to three crops at the same time and in the same field, for example, wheat + mustard/gram, which may be defined as mixed crops or companion crops.

Here, different crops are sown in different rows. For example, 6 to 8 rows of cotton + 2 to 3 lines or 4-6 rows or 1-2 lines + sunflower, which is to say guard crops growing hardy or thorny crops (mesta/safflower) around the main crop (wheat) and augmenting crops, the growing of sub-groups (augmenting) to maintain the material yield in the crop plus cowpeas.

Advantages of Mixed Cropping

Mixed cropping has numerous advantages. It minimizes the spread of pests and diseases, while also increasing productivity and providing food security for the farmer.

Additionally, legumes can improve soil fertility by adding nitrogen to the soil. This practice also helps to prevent soil erosion and increase crop yield.

Closely spaced crops can also suppress weeds, and mixed cropping provides insurance against crop failure, reducing the risk for farmers.

Furthermore, less labor is needed for farm operations, and equal care can be given to all crops.

Disadvantages of Mixed Cropping

Competition between crops themselves and between crops and weeds can occur, making it difficult to maximize the productivity of each crop.

Mechanization can also be problematic due to differences in crop morphology.

Applying fertilizers and pesticides to individual crops is challenging, which can lead to uneven growth and susceptibility to disease.

Additionally, harvesting and threshing crops separately may not be possible, which can make it challenging to efficiently manage the yield of each crop. 

Difference Between Inter-Cropping and Mixed Cropping

Intercropping in Crop Production

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

It leads to efficient utilization of nutrients between deep feeders and shallow feeders, which permits efficient use of solar radiation between the pianophiles and electrophiles.

This approach avoids total crop failure since the farmer can consume one crop, for example, maize, in case of the failure of beans.

Additionally, intercropping leads to high yields since the farmer can harvest from the various intercrops.

It reduces the wastage of labor since the farmer ends up weeding the whole field during the weeding process.

Legumes may add nitrogen to the soil, and the farmer gets a higher income by selling the various food items produced.

Additionally, some of the crops may act as nurse crops, and the farmer can have a balanced diet since there is a variety of food to select from.

Furthermore, soil erosion can be prevented with effective cropping density and soil cover, and intercropping may help in controlling pests and diseases spread from one plant to another.

Disadvantages of Intercropping

It leads to competition for space and nutrients, and this may lead to lower yields.

Agronomic practices are sometimes difficult to perform.

There is an easy spread of pests and diseases, and it requires more inputs, especially seeds, which may be difficult for the farmer to afford.

The farmer may encounter problems when selling different types of produce.

Control of pests and diseases may be challenging.

Control of weeds may also pose a problem, and mechanization is often a challenge.

The Art of Fallowing: Understanding Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture

This is a farming practice of allowing cropland to lie idle during a growing season to build up soil moisture and fertility content so that a better crop can be produced in the following year.

A fallow year or season is one in which the field is not cultivated with any crop but left without crops. The field may be left undisturbed in a plowed condition or kept clean by frequent cultivation. It is usually worked periodically to control weeds and improve moisture infiltration.

When planning a crop rotation, you should consider the growth habits and nutrient requirements of different crops, the effect of one crop on the succeeding crops, soil type, slope, infestation of weeds, diseases, and pests, and net profit.

The goal of fallowing is to allow the land to recover and store organic matter while retaining moisture and disrupting pest life cycles and soil-borne pathogens by temporarily removing their hosts.

Fallowing ensures that the decayed vegetative matter helps to increase plant nutrients in the soil. It also helps to increase subsoil moisture and improve the general structure of the soil. However, land left fallow or bare may be susceptible to leaching and erosion.

Planting for Success: Key Considerations for Implementing a Successful Crop Rotation Plan

When setting a good crop rotation plan, there are several important points that should be taken into consideration. First and foremost, the rotation should include a shallow-rooted grain crop, a deep-rooted cash crop, and a restorative crop to provide food, fodder, and cash to the farmer while maintaining soil productivity.

The selection of crops for the rotation should also consider the soil, climate, and market demand. This will ensure that the crops selected will thrive in the given environment and have a ready market when harvested.

In irrigated areas, the rotation should be based on the availability of water supply to allow for multiple crops to be grown in the same field in a year. In contrast, in rain-fed areas, if there is enough moisture left in the soil after the harvest of Kharif crops, some minor crops requiring less moisture, like pulses, may be grown.

To avoid pest and disease problems, it's crucial to alternate crops of diverse botanical relationships. Insects and diseases will attack closely related species but will not injure unrelated species. Both wide-row spaced crops and thickly planted crops should also be included in the rotation plan.

It's important to create a logical sequence of crops in the rotation plan, making full use of all available information regarding the effect of each crop on succeeding crops to ensure maximum yields and higher quality. Additionally, the area devoted to each crop should be consistent from year to year, with enough elasticity built into the rotation plan.

Depending on the soil type, more or less fertile, low-lying, acidic, or alkaline soils, the rotation plan should stress the importance of crop rotation. The importance, location of the farm, and region-based crops should also be considered in the rotation plan.

Finally, legumes should be included in the crop rotation with non-legumes, as it is a multi-advantageous crop. Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen, cover the land to prevent soil erosion and smother weeds, making them an excellent addition to any crop rotation plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mixed cropping and intercropping are effective agricultural practices that offer a range of benefits and challenges. Mixed cropping involves growing two or more crops together on the same piece of land, providing advantages such as pest and disease control, increased productivity, and food security. However, it also requires careful management to address competition and differences in crop morphology.

Intercropping, on the other hand, focuses on growing multiple crops near optimize resource utilization and yield. It allows for efficient nutrient utilization, reduces the risk of crop failure, and provides a diverse range of food items. Nevertheless, intercropping can lead to competition for space and nutrients, and controlling pests, diseases, and weeds may be more challenging.

Both practices require thoughtful planning, considering factors such as crop characteristics, soil type, climate, and market demand. A well-designed crop rotation plan that includes a variety of crops, alternates between diverse botanical relationships, and incorporates legumes can further enhance the benefits of mixed cropping and intercropping.