Intercropping
Definition
Intercropping is a farming practice where two or more crops are grown together at the same time on the same piece of land. The goal is usually to increase biodiversity and make better use of resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients.
Analogy
Think about intercropping as sharing a bedroom with your sibling. You both have different needs (like light for studying and darkness for sleeping), but you find ways to share space efficiently (like using desk lamps instead of overhead lights). Just like how intercropped plants share resources!
Related terms
Companion Planting: This is a type of intercropping where certain plants are grown together because they help each other grow better - kind of like best friends who bring out the best in each other!
Agroforestry: This involves growing trees and shrubs among crops or pastureland - it's another form of intercropping that can improve biodiversity and productivity.
Permaculture: A system that combines agricultural and social design principles around simulating or directly utilizing patterns observed in natural ecosystems. Intercropping plays an important role in permaculture systems.
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