Introduction
Intercropping is an old practice in the Kenyan agricultural sector. Actually, it can be viewed as one of the oldest farming practices used in Kenya by farmers even in the rural areas. Modern intercropping in urban agriculture is the practice of growing more than one crop on a piece of land. It is considered a viable farming practice that allows for a diversified cropping system, whereby ecological processes and resources are well utilized, in a manner that would not be possible with a single crop. The product of this is increased crop production and reduced food insecurity. In Kenya, the most common crops are maize and beans, the two staple crops in the country.
As more research is being carried out in the agricultural sector, farmers must advance their farming techniques, where they stop being limited to panting maize and beans only, and also choose other crops to grow. This article aims to provide farmers with a better understanding of modern intercropping in urban agriculture as a technology, its advantages, and how to select the most appropriate crops to intercrop and thus ensure maximum land use.
Understanding Modern Intercropping in Urban Agriculture
This is a technology where a farmer plants more than one crop, at the same time, in the same field. It involves planting one main crop, and adding other secondary crops to maximize the economics and production factors of the crops. The crops can be of different species or plant families.
The main goal of modern intercropping in urban agriculture is to produce higher yields from a piece of land, in a manner that would otherwise not be possible when only a single crop is used. In the process of intercropping, a farmer can grow various crops on the same land, optimize planting space, and the utilization of nutrients and water. The optimization of intercropping involves proper planning to ensure that the crops grown together are not competing for space, nutrients, water, or sunlight. An example of a successful strategy is planting a deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop, or a tall plant (maize) with a shorter plant that needs partial shade (beans).
Modern intercropping in Urban Agriculture has also become quite instrumental in organic farming, where farmers combine crops based on their pest-resistance characteristics. An example is a farmer planting tomatoes and basil, where basil acts as a natural pest-repellant for aphids and mosquitoes which would otherwise affect tomatoes, while the Basil will get extra shade from the tomato plant. Intercropping has been shown to encourage biodiversity, by different crops providing a habitat for the growth of various beneficial insects and soil organisms, a trait that would otherwise not be seen in a single-crop environment.
Types of Modern Intercropping in Urban Agriculture
- Mixed Intercropping: there isn’t any distinct row for the crops. Rather they are mixed. It is commonly used for annual and perennial crops like planting vegetables and legumes.
- Row Intercropping: the crops are grown in alternate rows. This is the technique used for growing maize and beans in Kenya. An alternative to this is strip cropping where multiple rows or strips of one crop are alternated with strips of another crop. These strips are wide enough to ensure independent cultivation. This technique can be used to grow tomatoes and onions, kale and onions, cabbage and lettuce.
- Relay Intercropping: in this technique, the second crop is only grown part of the cropping season. The first crop is planted. Just before it reaches its physiological maturity but has already started reproducing, the second crop, which acts as a cover crop is grown. This technique ensures that there is limited competition between the two crops. It also allows the farmer to use the field for a longer time as the second crop remains in the field once the main crop is harvested. An example is maize and sweet potato.
Why Modern Intercropping in Urban Agriculture
To many farmers, intercropping is considered a technique for individuals with large farmers or planting only maize and beans. This is far from the truth. Modern intercropping in urban agriculture is an effective alternative for farmers with small spaces, especially those practicing urban farming where there is limited space, resources, and nutrition. As such, a farmer is striving to make the most of their land while using minimum resources.Â
The advantages of using modern intercropping in Urban Agriculture include:
Advantages of Urban Farming
1. Increased yield
Intercropping allows a farmer to use their small space and grow more food per unit area, leading to greater productivity. Effective intercropping is based on understanding the individual needs of each crop, and thus ensuring that all resources are used effectively. As such, no part of the land is wasted. An example is planting a deep-rooted crop like maize with a shallow-rooted crop like maize ensuring that both the surface and deeper soil layers are utilized.
2. Enhanced soil fertility
The incorporation of leguminous crops like beans, peas, and groundnuts among the crops leads to the fixation of nitrogen in the soil. This leads to increased soil fertility, healthier soils, and more sustainable farming in the long run.
3. Natural pest and disease control
As a means of reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides, it is necessary to introduce natural pest-repellant plants like herbs as part of the crops. Other than that, intercropping has been known to reduce pest infestation. By planning different crops, it becomes harder for pests to attack an entire field as pests are mostly crop-specific.
4. Risk management
Planting more than one crop reduced the risk of relying on one crop. In case of crop failure due to adverse weather, pests, or diseases, intercropping acts as a safety net. While one crop might fail to thrive, the others might thrive and thus reduce the total loss at the end of harvest.
Best Crop Pairing for Urban Farmers
It is necessary to have a prior understanding of the individual needs of crops before planting, especially when planting in a small area. Choosing the right combination is the secret to a greater harvest and better output. The crops grown together should be able to complement each other in terms of nutrient use, pest control, and the optimum use of space. Here are some excellent combinations for small-scale farmers.
Carrots and Onions
These two crops are complementary to each other in pest control. While the strong smell of onions deters carrot flies, the smell of carrots repels onion flies. These two crops also do not compete for nutrients or space, and attract pollinators. They should be planted in alternating rows, about 10 inches apart to allow for better root growth. Onions should be 4 inches apart while carrots should be 2 inches apart. (Look out for my companion cropping template coming soon) both crops thrive in loose, well-drained soil. Adding compost will improve the fertility and texture of the soil. Avoid over-watering both plants to prevent root rot.
Other crops that can be grown in carrots and onions are:
- Radishes: These have a complementary root system to carrots, thus increasing the effective use of land. Radishes can be sown between the rows of carrots and onions (2 inches between radish plants) without crowding them. Radish has a faster maturity time, so if you grow them between the onions and carrots, they will be ready for harvest before the onions and carrots require full spacing.
- Lettuce – you can also add the loose-leaf lettuce variety on the outer edges of the bed. Lettuce should have 8 inches between each plant. Lettuce have a shallow root system and thus won’t compete with the deeper roots of carrots and radishes, and will not interfere with bulbing onions. (just ensure to continually add compost as lettuce is a heavy feeder and requires lots of nitrogen for effective growth.
- Tomatoes – which have similar fertilization and watering needs as onions and carrots.
- Beets: which have similar soil conditions as onions.Â
- Marigold: which can keep away invading species while acting as a pollinator attractant
Tomatoes and Basil
Basil is considered an effective companion to tomatoes as they are a great indicator of diseases before tomatoes start showing signs. Further, basil attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings while repelling insects like whitefly, blackfly, and aphids that eat tomatoes. Basil also improves the taste of tomatoes. Basil and tomatoes can be planted 10 inches from each other.
Other companions to tomatoes and basil are:
- Parsley
- Onions
- Marigold
- Cruciferous vegetables
These are just among the many companion plants that a farmer in Kenya can intercrop in Kenya.
A common technique is to include natural repellant crops in your farm like:
- Marigolds – they repel whiteflies, aphids and nematodes. They also act as attractants to pollinators and beneficial insects like lady-bugs
- Basil – they deter mosquitoes and flies
- Mint – they repel acts, aphids, and cabbage moths
- Rosemary – they keep away moths, beetles and mosquitoes
The introduction of these plants in your urban farm creates a balanced ecosystem that attracts beneficial insects while repelling pests naturally.
Conclusion
Modern intercropping in urban agriculture is a viable solution for urban farmers in Kenya. Regardless of the size of your farm, a farmer can maximize their space to ensure maximum output with minimum input. Intercropping is a necessary technology for any farmer who is seeking to increase productivity, enhance soil fertility, and mitigate farming risks. At the same time, the success of intercropping is based on understanding the individual needs of each crop, and thus knowing which crops to par together to avoid competition. We will soon be uploading companion plant templates that farmers in Kenya can use to ensure better production.
