Intercropping
Intercropping is the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time (Andrews & Kassam 1976). A practice often associated with sustainable agriculture and organic farming, it is one form of polyculture. Intercropping may benefit crop yield or the control of some kind of pest, or may have other agronomic benefits.
- Wikiopedia The bottom line, this type of organic gardeining practice allows for greater plant diversity for increased crop production and pest control. Benefits of Intercropping Intercropping Combinations I've taken the liberty of combining the intercropping with a tradition approach called companion planting for simplicity sake. I believe in keeping it simple. Companion planting in my opinion is not an exact science, but it points to some very interesting combinations and many oraganic gardeners swear by it. The table below was compiled from traditional literature on companion planting, which to me is intercropping. Crop | Intercrop With | Asparagus | Tomato, Parsley, Basil | Bush Beans | Irish Potato, Cucumber, Corn, Strawberry, Celery, Summer Savory | Pole Beans | Corn, Summer Savory, Radish | Cabbage Family | Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard | | Carrots | Radishes, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato | Celery | Onion, Cabbage Families, Tomato, Bush Beans, Nasturtium | Corn | Irish Potato, Beans, Pumpkins, Cucumber, Squash | Eggplant | Beans, Marigold | Lettuce | Carrots, Radish, Strawberry, Cucumber | Onion Family | Beets, Carrots, Lettuce, Cabbage Family, Summer Savory | Parsley | Tomato, Asparagus | Irish Potato | Beans, Corn, Cabbage Family, Marigolds, Horseradish | Pumpkins | Beans, Corn, Marigold | Radish | Carrots, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber | Spinach | Strawberry, Beans | Squash | Nasturtium, Corn, Marigold | Tomato | Onion Family, Nasturtium, Marigold, Asparagus, Carrots, Parsley, Cucumber | Turnip | Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard | Intercropping for Pest ControlIntercropping reduces pests in a variety of ways, including: Chemical Repellent - These plants provide odors that confuse and ward off pests. This works best in intensive intercropping. Parasitic Wasp Host Plant - These plants provide food and shelter for parasitic wasps as they search for pests. Parasitic Wasp Increase - Intercropping plants attract parasitic wasps as a food source from either the plant or the pests. Physical Interference - These plants "get in the way" of the pest as either a physical barrier or life cycle interference. Predator Increase - These plants act as a food source or breeding ground for beneficial insects as they search out for pests. Trap Crop - Another form of Intercropping is Trap cropping. Trap cropping encourages pests to congregate, which makes it easier for beneficial insects to prey and for handpicking. Visual Masking - These plants provide a visual mask that confuses the pest or concealed the main crop. Pest Control Intercropping Matrix Pest Reduced | Crop | Intercrop With | Function Of Intercrop | Aphids |
|
| Bean Aphid | Apple | Eryngium sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Green Peach Aphid |
| Phacelia sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Pea Aphid | Barley | Alfalfa | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Woolly Apple Aphid | Red Clover | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Brussels Sprouts | White Clover | Visual Masking |
| Clover | Physical Interference | Visual Masking |
|
| French Beans | Physical Interference |
| Cabbage | Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase |
|
| Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Collards | Weedy groundcover | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| French Beans | Weedy groundcover | Physical Interference |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Queen Anne's Lace | Trap Crop |
|
|
| Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Lamb's Quarter | Trap Crop |
|
| Annual Sow thistle | Trap Crop |
| Kale | Kale | Visual Masking |
|
| Red Clover | Predator Increase |
| Squash | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tansy | Chemical Repellent | Asparagus Beetle |
| Asparagus | Tomato | Chemical Repellent | Blue Sharpshooter |
| Grapes | Blackberry | Parasitic Wasp Host Plant | Cabbage Lopper |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
|
| Predator Increase |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase | Cabbage Maggot |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
|
| Predator Increase |
| Turnip | White Clover | Chemical Repellent |
| Brussels Sprouts | White Clover | Visual Masking |
| Cabbage | Clover | Predator Increase | Carrots Rust Fly |
| Carrots | Onion | Chemical Repellent | Codling Moth |
| Apple | Weedy groundcover | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Colorado Potato Beetle |
|
|
|
| Potato | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Nasturtium | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tansy | Chemical Repellent | Corn Earworm |
| Soybean | Cassia sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Croton sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Desmodium sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Soybean | Corn | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Weedy ground cover | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Corn | Soybean | Predator Increase | Cutworms |
| Corn | Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Chickweed | Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Lady's Thumb Smartweed | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Shepherds Purse | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Wild Mustard | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Diamondback Moth |
| Cabbage | Hawthorn | Trap Crop |
|
| Tomato | Physical Interference | European Corn Borer |
| Corn | Giant Ragweed | Trap Crop |
|
| Peanuts | Visual Masking | Fall Armyworm |
| Corn | Beans | Predator Increase |
|
| Physical Interference | Predator Increase |
|
| Beggertick | Predator Increase |
|
| Goldenrod | Predator Increase |
|
| Mexican Tea | Predator Increase |
|
| Pigweed | Predator Increase |
|
| Pigweed | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Flea Beetles |
| Collards | Weedy ground cover | Visual Masking |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase |
|
| Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Cabbage | White Clover | Chemical Repellent |
| Tomato | Cabbage | Chemical Repellent |
| Collards | Tobacco | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tomato | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Wild Mustard | Predator Increase |
|
| Ragweed | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tomato | Chemical Repellent |
| Cole Crops | Candytuft | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Shepherds Purse | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Wormseed Mustard | Chemical Repellent | Green Peach Aphid |
| Peppers | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Nasturtium | Chemical Repellent |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Broccoli | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Radish | Broccoli | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Collards | Lamb's Quarter | Predator Increase |
|
| Pigweed | Predator Increase |
|
| Xanthium stramonium | Predator Increase | Greenhouse Whitefly |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Queen Anne's Lace | Trap Crop |
|
| Parasitic Wasp Increase | Trap Crop |
|
| Rose Geraniums | Trap Crop | Harlequin Bug |
| Cabbage | Mustard | Trap Crop | Imported Cabbageworm |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Predator Increase | Chemical Repellent |
| Cauliflower | Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Broccoli | Catnip | Predator Increase |
|
| Tansy | Predator Increase |
| Brussels Sprouts | Weedy ground cover | Predator Increase |
| Cabbage |
| |
