Review of intercropping research: Studies on cereal-vegetable based cropping system
Keywords:
Intercropping, Cereals, Vegetables, Cropping systemAbstract
Intercropping which is closely associated with peasant agriculture is a practice that involves the growth of two or more crops in proximity, in the same field during a growing season to promote interactions between them. Reasons for this practice include insurance against total crop failure, yield increment, weed control and high monetary returns. Studies on crop mixture have recently focused on cereal-vegetable intercropping system, such as maize-okra, maize-tomato, maize-leafy green, maize-egusi melon, maize-cauliflower amongst others. This paper, which is a compilation of reviewed reports, generally examined the areas of consideration in intercropping, it discussed the benefits obtained and broadly assessed the yield advantages derived from intercropping, with particular reference to cereal-vegetable based cropping system. The compilation of the reviewed reports, therefore serves as useful information base for other agricultural scientists with interest in the area of intercropping research, with particular focus on cereal-vegetable mixture.
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