Intercropping

Definition

An agroecological practice of cultivating two or more crop species simultaneously in spatial proximity within the same field, creating a form of polyculture that diversifies plant architecture, phenology, and resource use. In entomological contexts, intercropping modifies arthropod community assembly by altering host-plant availability, microclimate, and natural enemy habitat, often reducing pest outbreaks through associational resistance or enhancing biological control.

Etymology

Example

Maize intercropped with beans or squash in traditional milpa systems supports higher predator and parasitoid diversity, suppressing lepidopteran stem borers through increased top-down control and disruptive visual or olfactory cues that impede host-finding by specialist herbivores.

Synonyms

• mixed cropping
• Polyculture

Related Terms

• Polyculture
• Monoculture
• crop rotation
• push-pull system
• habitat diversification
• associational resistance
• Conservation biological control

Usage Notes

Distinguished from crop rotation (temporal sequencing) and relay cropping (temporal overlap with sequential harvests). Effects on arthropod communities are context-dependent; some intercropping systems increase pest pressure if the secondary crop serves as a reservoir or bridge host. Specialist entomologists often specify spatial arrangement—row intercropping, strip intercropping, or relay intercropping—as this influences insect movement and colonization dynamics.