INTERCROPPING is commonly described as the cultivation of two or more varieties of crops simultaneously on the same piece of land, and this is generally associated with sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
Intercropping can also result in attaining higher yields from a small piece of land by making use of spaces that are not utilized for just planting a single crop.
At this particular time where mobility is oftentimes restricted due to the pandemic, this practice is very practical to adopt.
For example, aside from planting bitter gourd, a farmer can also plant a local variety of hot chilli pepper and a panigang variety under the trellises of the bitter gourd or ampalaya.
However, careful planning is required, taking into consideration the kind of soil, the climate prevailing in the area, and the varieties of crops to be planted.
Remember, it is very important not to plant crops that may compete with each other for physical space.
One example of intercropping strategy is to plant a deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop.
That is the reason behind the planting of two varieties of peppers underneath the trellises of ampalaya vines, because pepper plants usually need a sufficient amount of sunlight to be productive.
Through intercropping, spraying of organic fertilizers can also benefit the plants below the trellises, which can compensate for the lack of sunlight needed by the pepper plants to thrive.
It also important to supplement the plants with the right nutrients, like those that can be provided by Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer, which can be sprayed on the vines of ampalaya.
Following the use of the farm input for several weeks, we can notice the improvement.
Incidentally, the product contains compounds that can promote plant growth, and does not contain toxic or carcinogenic materials, thus a good source of plant nutrients.
Because Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer contains effective microorganisms consisting mostly of lactic acid bacteria, nitrogen fixing bacteria, and yeast that act as bio-fertilizers for plants.
It can provide long-term beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the soil, and the microorganisms are highly efficient agents in promoting plant growth and increasing tolerance to disease-causing microorganisms.
The product has been certified as organic by the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines.
It effectively adheres to the plant’s surface, provides quick supplementation, increases the yield and growth rate of crops, increases crop resistance against drought, and improves plant vitality and self-defense processes.
On the other hand, intercropping can also encourage biodiversity by providing a habitat for a variety of insects and soil organisms that are not present in a single-crop environment.
These organisms may also provide the crops with valuable nutrients, such as through nitrogen fixation.
Another advantage of intercropping is that when the price of one crop fluctuates, the other crops might compensate for the loss.
The various advantages of intercropping, coupled with the benefits of using Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer, can encourage the other farmers to continue the practice in the succeeding cropping seasons./PN
