Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
After completing this lesson, you have learned to
answer:
1. Define intercropping system?
2. What are the features of an ideal intercropping
system?
3. List useful intercropping systems for chili pepper
cultivation?
4. What is mixed cropping?
5. Why farmers practice mixed cropping?
6. Why intercropping is a better system than mixed
cropping?
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Adverse weather conditions like delay in the onset of
rains and/or failure of rains for few days to weeks
some time or other during the crop period is very
common in the rainfed chili pepper growing areas.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Such situation results in economic losses to the
farmers due to the partial or total failure of chili
pepper crop.
To over come this situation there is need to adopt or
follow chili pepper based cropping systems like
intercropping or mixed cropping in rainfed chili
pepper growing areas.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
With particular reference to dry land agriculture, an
intercropping system needs to be designed in such a
way that in the case of unfavorable weather, at least
one crop will survive to give economic yields, thereby
providing for the necessary insurance against
unpredictable weather.
In case the year happens to be normal with respect to
rainfall, the intercropping system, as a whole, should
prove to be more profitable than growing either of the
crops alone.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Intercropping refers to growing more than one crop in
the same land area in rows of definite proportion and
pattern.
Chili pepper-Maize
Intercropping
Sorghum-chili pepper
Intercropping
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
An ideal intercropping should aim to:
•
•
•
•
Produce higher yields per unit area through better
use of natural resources;
Offer greater stability in production under adverse
weather conditions and with disease and insect
infestation;
Meet the domestic needs of the farmer;
Provide an equitable distribution of farm
resources.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
The following intercropping practices were found to be
remunerative than sole crop of chili pepper even under
drought or excessive rainfall in AP.
Chili pepper+ Sorghum
2:1 ratio
Chili pepper + Maize
2:4 ratio
Chili pepper + Soybean
4:2 ratio
Chili pepper + Sunflower
4:2 ratio
(2:1 ratio indicates 2 rows of sorghum and
one row of the other crop)
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Sorghum+ Chili pepper inter cropping
system is recommended to farmers to
meet the fodder needs of cattle and
milch animals.
Sorghum-chili pepper
Intercropping
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
While maintaining the yield levels of the sole or
unmixed crop of chili pepper, additional yields with
the intercropping component have been realized
under various systems.
Since a food legume is involved in most of the
systems, it will not only enhance the income of the
farmer, but would also provide with the muchneeded protein to supplement the predominantly
cereal diet of farmers.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Mixed cropping refers to
simultaneously growing more
than one crop in the same land
area as a mixture.
Chili pepper mixed
with many other
crops
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Unlike in intercropping system, in mixed cropping the crops
are grown without any definite proportion or pattern.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Mixed cropping of Chili pepper-Maize is most common.
Mixtures with green gram (mung), black gram (urid),
cowpea and even with pearl millet and other cereals,
vegetables, etc. during kharif are practiced under different
situations.
During rabi the mixing of chili pepper and safflower is the
most common practice.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Mixed cropping is practiced in traditional subsisting farming
to meet the domestic needs of the farmer's family. Thus, the
number of crops grown mixed varies depending on the family
needs.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Can you identify the number and name of the crops in this
field?
Click on the
picture to
check your
guess.
Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 2: Intercropping and Mixed Cropping Practices
Even though crops in the mixed cropping meets the
farmer’s family needs, the yield of crops will be very
low due to the competition between the crops for water,
light, nutrients etc.
A better cropping system will be adopting intercropping
system involving the major crops.
However, the crop plants required to meet the family
needs could still be grown on the field bunds, on the
field borders, and in the house back yards.