Importance of intercropping for biodiversity conservation

Abstract

Traditional there are two strategies to handle pest problems in crop production, either dependence on non-chemical agricultural practices (such as cultural, mechanical, biological practices etc.) or reliance on existing natural pest control mechanisms. Intercropping is a cultural non-chemical agricultural practice where two or more crops are grown on the same field in a year with different cropping patterns. In this multiple cropping system, biodiversity and pest suppression are increased. Biodiversity can restore the natural elements of agro ecosystem because almost all favorable elements of natural enemies are available in diversified agro ecosystem. Energy intensive modern technology in agriculture is one of the vital causes for loss of biodiversity. In intercropping system biological pest control method can be ensured with higher level of crop diversity instead of energy intensive agriculture. Intercropping provides different benefits on pest management with two available hypotheses or mechanism. One of the hypotheses is the ‘resource concentration hypothesis’ and another is the ‘natural enemies hypothesis’. Intercropping, directly and indirectly, influences to increase biodiversity which results in reduction of pest densities in crop fields. As a result, less expense for use of pesticide is required and finally higher yield also add some financial benefits. Intercropping system utilizes inherent ability of plant to protect pests. Therefore further knowledge about genotypic crop diversity, diversity of natural enemies, chemically-mediated mechanisms of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will be effective for further improvement of intercropping system for greater benefits.