Hi Alem Redda,

I hope yhese articles will be of help to you. Best regards,

Noemí Colombo

Dear Alem,

Intercropping in general is a delicate topic I think. To my opinion, it shall be applied only if the combined crops can benefit from synergies or side effects from the other (not mixing randomly any crops without reasoning). For sorghum and maize, I agree that it might not be the best option, and a maybe a more obvious combination would be to combine cereals with leguminoses... However, maize and sorghum are needed in higher quantity by many growers serving as animal feed (plant residues) and carbohydrate source (grains), especially subsistence growers. I think there are several reasons to combine both. Literature indicates there can be better weed control, better water use efficiency, and even higher yield or higher silage quality. Of course, when managed inappropriate or having bad luck with the weather, there can also be negative effects. Additionally I would also add decreased disease spread compared to monocultures. If you have time, you might review some literature, to confirm my hypotheses ;)

Cheers, Elisa

Dear Dr. Elisa Senger

Really big respect for your nice knowledge of the subject matter.

Your answers are of great value!!!

I'll get back with the farmers' final answer in the near future.

Dear Dr. Elisa, can you give us some special intercrops in your location or study?

STAY BLESSED!!!

Alem

Thank you for your nice words, Alem. I have worked with jatropha in the past but now I shifted to another research area, berries. In my former work, we have tried to combine jatropha with different other crops to generate some additional income source in the first years of plantation until jatropha has full yield. However, it was rather preliminary testing and has never developed into a scientific publication. Now I work on berry production in Europe and there is not that much intercropping there ;) sorry to not be able to give you more inputs.

Dear Dr. Elisa Senger, thank you so much!!!

From your nice response, I'd thought:

• Economic advantage is one of the reasons for intercropping
• Examples include: Jatropha with other crops (but what crops?)
• Two intercrops stay together until yielding, then exclude one another (important new concept)

Dear Dr., never mind for not having more examples. We are waiting for world researchers to do so.

Wish you all the best!!

Alem

Dear Dr. Noemí Colombo

Really thank you for sharing such valuable docs. with us.

Fortunately, one of the three docs says "Maize with sorghum". It's so nice.

STAY BLESSED!!!

Alem

Dear Alem,

The topic intercropping is multifaceted and has be investigated around the globe with probably all crop combinations one can imagine. During waiting for researchers response, I think you can find vast amount of information and ideas in literature. There are very good reviews summarizing the work that has been done in a particular aspect.

Dear Dr. Elisa Senger

I really understand your sense and share your worries.

My point is that I'm writing a comprehensive review on this topic and eagerly waiting for new ideas and explanations by the so experienced RG researchers from around the globe and combining their views with the info I got in literature.

You know..."The biggest knowledge is experience"

Thank U for ur understanding!!!

With respects!!!

Alem

I see, I wish you best success with your review and hope you get many ideas from researchers! You may also interview elderly people regarding their experiences. I remember my grandmother was an enthusiast house gardener, combining so many plants in her garden, and all combinations had a particular purpose or reason, it is incredible! Unfortunately, I can hardly remember and I guess especially in Europe, most of this kind of knowledge is getting lost, because it is not common to have house gardens anymore, or not for subsistence...

Dear Dr. Elisa Senger

Ohhh I forgot to tell you that I've had survey research on farmers too (i.e.. maize with sorghum, maize with cotton, maize with tomato, etc.). Intercropping is really a fascinating livelihood practice in the farmers' life that goes long beyond what we think it would simply be. Farmers practice it for 1000 reasons!!! It is an amazing fact that your grandma's past practice is our parents' current livelihood (in Africa).

Therefore, my sources of information and ideas are becoming so nice:

• Interview with farmers (experience + practice)
• Literature
• Researchers in RG

Thank You!!!

Alem

Dear Alem, Elisa, and Noemi,

Crop rotation and fixed sowing practices have undergone a long historical development. The positives are probably clear. But, economic market pressures may force farms to re-grow some crops over a number of years. This can be unbearable for the soil in that field, as mineral fertilizers or chemical pesticides must then be used to a greater extent. The question arises as to whether immediate economic gains will be more expensive in the future, because elimination of the negative consequences can be time- and money-consuming and ecologically difficult.

Best regards, BS

Dear Dr. Bozena Sera,

many thanks for your valuable explanations.

But scientifically, what could be said the reason for intercropping of two cereal crops (e.g. maize and sorghum)?

Just your experience and if you have any references.

STAY BLESSED!!!

Alem

Scientifically; intercropping of maize and sorghum is not appropriate as both of the crops belong to same family poaceae, both are exhaustive crop requiring more inputs, both of the crop are of shallow roots extract moisture from same layer of soil thereby depletion in soil-water level from a particular area.. nutrient demanding period is almost same for both of the crop therefore will compete with each other for nutrient demand..but intercropped yield of both of the crop is higher than that of their yield from sole stand ....there might be synergism between both the crops either by secreting some beneficial metabolites, or via mutualism thereby both of them are deriving benefits from each other and favour growth and development of crop in additive manner...

Dear Dr. Himanshu Verma, thank you for your insightful explanation. I understand your idea. But remember that intercropping does not necessarily mean the two intercrops would end the season together. There is a probability of culling either of the intercrops for many reasons, for example, as you said, to avoid heavy competition for nutrients between them. Also, nutrient completion would not be the only reason. The "either-or principle" works here.