Wide-row
Intercropping
Wide-row intercropping is practiced principally for the production of tree products (e.g., poles, timber, fruits). Wide spacings between rows (e.g., 10-20 meters) are used to avoid negative impact on the associated crops because the trees are grown to large sizes. Planting trees in wide rows divides the farm into a series of narrow fields with trees bordering each field. It is recommended that the trees be planted on contours. Trees can initially be planted fairly close within the rows (e.g., 1-2 meters), and later thinned as the trees reach usable sizes (ex., small poles).
A typical indigenous practice is to allow some trees which have come up naturally to grow in a scattered arrangement in the field. This is basically the same as wide-row intercropping. However, uniform spacing and contour planting ensures uniform treatment (microclimatic), ease in mechanized operations, and enables conversion to alternate crops without necessitating removal of the trees.
In wide-row intercropping, tree canopies can be managed through periodic pollarding, or other forms of canopy management, to reduce shade competition. This should coincide with the cropping season to reduce shade. Important genera for wide-row intercropping are generally similar to those recommended for windbreaks. Again, final species choice should be largely determined by what tree product the individual farmer wants. |
