Mix Cropping Is The Need Of The Hour To Cope With the Rupee Scarcity In Pakistani Farmer Community

The farmers in Pakistan are mainly growing summer forages (maize, sorghum and pearl millet) as sole crop. Their forage is comprised poor in quality due to low crude protein content. The sowing of cereals in mixture with legumes improved both forage yield and quality. Although some work has been done on growing maize in mixture with legumes but comparative studies on forage legumes including sesbania sown under variable seed ratio is lacking in Pakistan.

Earlier, cropping systems were based on mixtures of desirable species tomeet the basic necessities of life like food, fiber and shelter for the welfare of the community. Mixtures of species were chosen by the growers over the centuries to make use of rainfall and native soil fertility, and choices were made from the best performing combinations observed. “A system of growing two or more crops (or varieties) in the same field, garden or plantation, not in separate blocks with each carrying a single crop but mixed together, occupying the same ground and with identical cultural operations applied to the growing area. “Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land with a distinct row arrangements and mixed cropping as being without a distinct row arrangements”. 

Mixed cropping of legumes and non-legumes is a very common practice in many parts of the world and particularly in the developing countries. Legumes are the major source of protein for both humans and animals and they also contribute nitrogen to non-legume components when grown in mixture. Mixed or intercropping is a technique for small farmers and intercropping systems of maize with legumes (soybean, cowpea, French beans and curd beans) were superior to sole crops.

Mixed cropping may be more beneficial if the components have different maturity time and growth requirements, have different root system or different morphology, especially in height. Growing of more than one crop better utilizes resources in comparison to mono cropping. Selection of crops for mixed or intercropping includes their compatibility, low competition and ability to produce higher yield as the most important factor.

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