Compare between mixed cropping and intercropping. Write down from advantage of both of these techniques.

Mixed Cropping

(i) It aims to minimize the risk of crop failure.

(ii) Seeds of two crops are mixed before sowing.

(iii) It involves no set pattern of rows of crops.

(iv) Spraying for pest control to individual crops is difficult and hence treatment is generic in nature.

Intercropping

(i) It aims to increase the productivity per unit area.

(ii) Seeds of two crops are not mixed.

(iii) It involves set pattern of rows of crops.

(iv) Pesticides can be easily applied to individual crop.

Advantages of mixed cropping:

(i) The risk of total crop failure due to uncertain monsoon is reduced.

(ii) Chances of pest infestation are greatly reduced.

(iii) Fertility of the soil is improved by growing two crops simultaneously.

Advantages of intercropping:

(i) It makes better use of the natural resources of sunlight, land and water.

(ii) Soil erosion is effectively arrested.

(iii) The produce of each crop can be marketed and consumed separately.